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Laundering for Aged and Incontinent
The washing of soiled linen may be carried out under the
Council's powers contained in Section 122 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936, which relates to the cleansing, disinfection or
destruction of filthy, unwholesome or verminous articles. In
relation thereto laundering facilities have been provided for a small
number of elderly patients where other arrangements were not reasonably
possible. Altogether, 1,123 articles were laundered during the
year by the Council's staff at the Disinfecting Station, at which
there are facilities for laundry work to be carried out on a small
scale. The number of articles laundered were as follows:- Night
attire 128? sheets 553; drawsheets 386; blankets 16? pillowcases
44; towels 79; miscellaneous 117.
ELITHAM CREMATORIUM
The new Crematorium situated on land adjoining Eltham Cemetery
is administered by the Woolwich, Greenwich and North West Kent Joint
Crematorium Committee, comprising the Boroughs of Woolwich, Greenwich,
Bexley, Dartford and Erith, and the Urban Districts of Chislehurst
and Sidcup, and Crayford. Cremations from other areas are also
accepted. Originally two cremators were installed, but owing to the
increased use being made of the Crematorium, arrangements were made
during the year for a third cremator to be installed.
Prom the 15th August, 1956, when the Crematorium was opened, to
the 7th December, 1957, a total of 2,317 cremations have taken place,
the receptions from each district being as followss:- Woolwich 643?
Greenwich 142? Bexley 422; Dartford 142; Chislehurst and Sidcup
247? Erith 140; Crayford 74; and other"areas 501. The number of
cremations during 1957 was 1,931.
BURIALS AND CREMATIONS
Arrangements were made by the Health Department during the year
for the burial of five persons and the cremation of another,who had
died or been found dead in the Borough, in cases where it appeared that
no other suitable funeral arrangements were being made. Pour of the
six persons were elderly and in respect of whom a Government death
grant was not available. The fifth was an unknown child found in a
public place. The person cremated had made a specific request to
this effect. The Council's expenses in this work during the year
amounted to £60, of which £29 was recovered from the estates of the
deceased persons.
MORTUARY FACILITIES
The Council's Mortuary in Sunbury Street is old and is expected
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