London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kingston upon Thames 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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72
Short Stay Accommodation
The need is recognised to provide short stay accommodation
for elderly and infirm persons who do not require permanent accommodation,
but need to be cared for for short periods, whether because of
domestic difficulties in the household in which they normally reside,
or to allow the relations who are looking after them to have a
holiday which would not otherwise be possible.
The demands for this facility are increasing and in addition to the permanent admissions, 107 elderly persons were admitted for short stay holiday periods to establishments as under:
| Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes Administered by the Borough | 1.2 | 30 |
| Voluntary Old People's Homes | 2 | 16 |
| Voluntary Homes for the Handicapped | 12 | 35 |
| 26 | 81 |
New Accommodation
I am very happy to be able to report that the building of
the new home for the elderly in the grounds of Coombe Oak, Warren Road,
Kingston Hill, was commenced during June and the contractor made good
progress by the end of the year and I have every hope that, if the
progress continues, this home for 50 residents may open some time in
September/October 1969.
Waratah. Sanderstead
This small home for 20 elderly residents which had been of
great use, particularly for emergency cases and holiday periods, was
closed temporarily in September to allow extensive internal structural
alterations to be carried out. The residents who remained at the time
of the closure were accommodated, in the main, in homes run by
voluntary organisations.
Staff
The recruitment of suitable staff for the residential homes
has been a considerable problem during the year and there does not seem
to be a ready solution for this problem. It was with great regret
that the local authority lost the valued service of the superintendent
of Fircroft in Ditton Road, Surbiton, Mr.L.J.Tribe who died on the 19th
October 1968, having served some eleven years as superintendent of this
home for elderly men.