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16
Social and Geriatric Services,,
Social and Geriatric Services for old people are steadily developing
and improving. Much is done for them by voluntary associations and many
who are relatively fit in mind and body enjoy a fully active and
interesting life enlivened by visits to Clubs,, Recreational activities
are provided by these voluntary associations.
For those who are beginning to fail and require assistance to maintain
themselves in their own homes all the resources of the Divisional Health
Services are readily available and much assistance from home helps,
district nurses and health visitors as well as from voluntary agencies
is given.
For those who are in need of more, such as medical or nursing care
and who cannot maintain themselves in their own homes the specialised
services of a physician, health visitors, and social workers are
available from Kingston Hospital.
The main purpose of this arrangement is rehabilitation. The social
worker or the physician visits the home and assesses the need and urgency
for a short stay in one of the appropriate hospitals.
The family doctor is usually the person who first seeks assistance from
the Home Help Supervisor, but all enquiries on behalf of needy old people
may be made to Divisional Health Headquarters, Health Centre, Grange
Road;, Kingston-upon-Thames, (Kingston 7261).
The County Welfare Committee provides considerable services for the
aged. These include different types of residential accommodation and
many domioilliary and advisory services.
The County Council also makes grants to voluntary organisations
towards initial expenses of buying and equipping properties.
Children's Department.
This Department is responsible for the welfare of children who have
been deprived of a normal home life. It has important functions in
connection with child life protection and adoption and deals with
children taken into or committed to the care of the County Council,
supervision of foster children, child neglect, etc. The children's
Officer for the Borough works from the County Hall, Penrhyn Road,
Kingston-upon-Thames.
Surrey Executive Council.
This body is responsible for the provision under the National Health
Service Act, 1946, of the general practitioner, dental (other than
Local Authority provision for expectant and nursing mothers, young children),
pharmaceutical and supplementary ophthalmic services. The
Headquarters of the Council is at 187, Swell Road, Surbiton, Surrey
(Elmbridge 5722).