View report page

3
The Minister of Health has indicated he hopes to be able to
recommend loan sanction for the building of a 100-place adult training
centre and workshop in New Maiden in 1969/70. It is hoped that there
will be at a later date an occupational therapy unit for handicapped
persons alongside, sharing kitchen, dining room and other facilities.
Environmental Health Section
Once again the report shows the enormous amount of routine
inspection, visiting and sampling that goes on to ensure the fitness of
our food and drink, and that our homes, places of work and atmosphere
and environment are as healthy as possible.
I record with regret the death of Mr.D.D.Mair, M.Sc., F.R.I.C.,
Public Analyst, in January 1968. He gave a valuable service to the new
borough and to the constituent councils prior to the amalgamation, and
to many other local authorities in the adjoining parts of Surrey.
Welfare Section
The report shows the wide variety of services available for
the welfare of the aged and handicapped. A particularly valuable
service is the temporary admission of elderly persons to give relatives
a break or holiday. It is pleasing to report that the building of the
first new old people's home in the borough is likely to start early in
1968. Additional accommodation of all types for the continually increasing
number of elderly people is very necessary, ranging right
through from flats and bungalows, warden controlled premises, accommodation
provided by voluntary housing associations, to Part HI
accommodation and hospital beds. The care of the confused elderly
continues to be a difficult problem.
There was an expansion in the meals on wheels and occupational
services during the year.
The recruitment of social workers at a time of national shortage
remained a very difficult problem, and the full establishment was again
never reached. The outlook should soon be brighter owing to the expanding
output from courses for the qualification in social work training now
taking place. This year our first trainee welfare assistant was
seconded to such a two-year course. I hope that a future report not
too far ahead will indicate a well co-ordinated service provided by a
full complement of staff.