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 1953

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]

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Table: Following the visit by volunteers to the old people of this part of the Borough, a card index system was set up in order that the information could be maintained, and renewed from time to time as further visits were paid. The number of old people covered by the canvass was 760,of whom489required no help, 83 asked for a further call to be made after6months, and192required help, details of the help asked for or seeming to be necessary in these cases, are as follows:—

Following the visit by volunteers to the old people of this part of the Borough, a card index system was set up in order that the information could be maintained, and renewed from time to time as further visits were paid. The number of old people covered by the canvass was 760,of whom489required no help, 83 asked for a further call to be made after6months, and192required help, details of the help asked for or seeming to be necessary in these cases, are as follows:—

Chiropody64Old people's clubs3
Home visiting33Old people's bungalows3
Home Help service30Employment2
Mobile Library15Medical appliances2
Meals on Wheels10District Nurse3
Shopping6Gardening1
General welfare9Financial relief5
Transport6Holidays2
Alternative accommodation4

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Chiropody Service for Old People
This service was continued throughout 1953, and during the year a total of 33
house-bound people received 143 visits in their homes for chiropody, and 111 old people
attended on 783 occasions the establishments of the chiropodists taking part in the scheme
for provision of cheap or free chiropody.
Holidays for Old People
The holiday scheme whereby old people could get a seaside holiday during off season
months of May and September, at reduced rates, continued during 1953, and, in addition,
the Old People's Welfare Committee sent 10 individuals for a holiday recommended by
their doctors. This was the Coronation tribute given by the Committee.
S.O.S. Cards Scheme
The Borough Council gave consideration to a scheme whereby S.O.S. cards could be
prepared and given out to old people living alone, for their use in emergency. These cards
were to be completed with any important information, such as name of next-of-kin, name
of doctor, ambulance, police, telephone numbers, name of Old People's Club attended,
if any. On distribution of these cards, old people would be instructed in their completion
and use in emergency. The Council are agreed that this scheme is likely to be a useful
one and suggested that the working out of detail of the distribution of the cards should
be undertaken by the Old People's Welfare Committee if they were willing to take on the
work, while the Borough Council would pay for the cost of preparing the cards. These
cards were then printed and then passed over to the Old People's Welfare Committee and
distribution was begun at the time of the survey referred to above in the report.
It is hoped that by the use of these cards in emergency help may be obtained for old
people in sudden distress or illness more quickly than might otherwise be the case.
Home Visiting
A special sub-committee of the Old People's Welfare Committee arranges for visits to
be paid to lonely and house-bound old people who desire such attention. This is a very
valuable service and much appreciated by the persons visited. During 1953 approximately
1,000 visits were paid in this way by a number of visitors totalling about 20. This work
is a very fine one and it is hoped that the number of persons volunteering to carry it out
will increase during the years.
National Assistance Act, 194S, Section 47
National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951
No case was dealt with under these powers during 1953.
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