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
Southall 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]
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General practitioners and all other people concerned were notified of the new
arrangements. Since the cessation of the facilities at Crosby House 6 patients have been
referred to Hammersmith for treatment. It would seem from these figures that the
majority of people infested must be obtaining treatment from their private practitioners,
since it is very unlikely that all infestation has ceased following the cleansing station closure.
However, if the information (Table XIV) given by the County Medical Officer concerning
vermin infestation found at school head inspection sessions is studied and compared with
figures from previous years, there would seem to be a considerable and continuing decline
in the spread of head lice.
The difficulties and requirements of 35 cases of old people living in difficult circumstances were investigated during 1952, and the action taken is recorded in the following list:—
| Removed to hospital | 12 |
| Removed to hospital (under National Assistance Act powers) | 1 |
| Removed to mental institution | 2 |
| Removed to old people's home | 4 |
| Removed to nursing home (private) | 1 |
| Died at home | 5 |
| Remained at home | 10 |
| (a) Home Help provided | 1 |
| (b) Awaiting admission to old people's home | 1 |
| (c) Blind pension obtained | 1 |
| (d) Period of convalescence obtained | 1 |
| (e) Awaiting housing in Ealing | 1 |
| (/) Provision of comforts | 1 |
| (g) Refused to enter home | 1 |
| (h) Awaiting housing | 2 |
| (i) Arrangements made for visit by Housing Department | 1 |
This list records the position at the end of 1952, but throughout the year these individual
cases had required provision of Home Help, District Nursing and/or other form of assistance.
The Old People's Welfare Committee, a voluntary association supported by the Borough
Council's Public Health Committee, carried out a good deal of visiting of old people during
the year and helped in obtaining walking sticks, fire guards, etc. An interesting figure
connected with Old People's Welfare obtained from the Area Home Help Organiser is
that 365 Southall people were given home help during the year and of these a considerable
proportion consisted of old people.
At Christmas there was again a good response from voluntary associations in the
provision of Christmas parcels, or special comforts, or vouchers with which to buy Christmas
fare.
The Old People's Welfare Committee decided that it would make it easier for the
members to assess the needs of the old people if a census could be made and a register
prepared containing the names of all the old people in the Borough, and listing their
particular problems. The help of the Round Table members was obtained for the
organisation of this, and a scheme prepared to be carried out during 1953.
Chiropody
A new activity started by the Old People's Welfare Committee during the year was
the provision of a chiropody service for old people. The services of a number of local
chiropodists were obtained and a rota was prepared of these practitioners. The names
of old people who wished to avail themselves of the service were obtained, visits paid by
members of the Old People's Welfare Committee to their homes, and the needs and
circumstances of the patients were assessed. Those who could paid a small fee of 1s. 0d.
per case, but in needy cases the fee was paid by the Old People's Welfare Committee.
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