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The County Council has the duty, under the National Assistance Act, 1948, of providing
residential accommodation for aged and infirm persons in need of care and attention which
is not otherwise available to them; and it can do this by providing its own Homes or by
arrangements with registered Voluntary Organisations. The County Council's Welfare
Department administers the County Homes, and the number of persons admitted to such
Homes from the Borough in 1956 was 25.
These cases are not usually brought to the notice of the Public Health Department
staff until someone feels they should be removed compulsorily from the circumstances in
which they are living, and it is very satisfactory to be able to report that, in spite of this,
some other help was able to be found for each of the cases except for the two who refused all
assistance. They, along with the two who refused help in 1955, had to be kept under
observation from time to time so that any change in their condition likely to cause a public
health nuisance or to endanger their lives could be discovered quickly and compulsory powers
used if all else failed, and in fact one of the two from 1955 was admitted to an old people's
home. These cases always present great difficulty as it is important to ensure that while
individuals are aware of all the facilities which are available for them there should be no
interference with their liberty of action so long as they are of reasonably sound mind.
Tribute must be paid to the excellent work of the Area Welfare Officer and the Home Help
Organiser in helping to deal with these cases and their problems.
It has been ascertained from the Area Medical Officer that 271 Southall people were
given Home Help during the year and of these 216 consisted of chronic sick or aged persons,
and of 901 persons who were assisted by the Home Nurses, 439 were of age 65 or over.
Many voluntary associations contributed to provide Christmas parcels or special
comforts for old people.
Meals on Wheels Service:
During the year mid-day meals on four days per week were provided for all known
housebound old people who wished to take advantage of the service. During the year
6,718 meals were delivered. The cost of the meal was 9d. to the recipient, and for each
meal Southall Borough Council made a grant of 1/-. Arrangements were made for the
cooking and issuing of meals to be carried out at Beaconsfield Road School Canteen, and
later at George Tomlinson School Canteen.
Chiropody Service for Old People:
This service was continued throughout 1956. Six local chiropodists gave their
services at cheap rates for Old Age Pensioners.
Holidays for Old People:
The holiday scheme whereby old people get a seaside holiday during off season months of
May and September, at reduced rates, continued during 1956, and was operated by the
various Old People's Clubs in the Borough.
Other Services:
A service for the provision of cheap laundry and a cheap boot and shoe service are
available. In March, 1956, the North Thames Gas Board offered a free service of inspection
of the gas appliances and service pipes in houses of old age pensioners living alone. The
reason for this was in order to reduce the risk of gas poisoning, a frequent cause of home
accidents and fatalities in old people. The offer was to include free replacement of faulty
pipes and the free repair of faulty appliances. To take advantage of this offer, lists of old
people living alone were submitted from the Public Health Department and in due course
the homes of the persons nominated on the lists were visited by the Gas Board officers.
Fresh lists continued to be supplied from time to time.
Southall Association for the Occupation of the Elderly:
A scheme for providing work for old age pensioners as a means of physical and mental
maintenance and rehabilitation had been under consideration for some considerable time,
and the Public Health Committee of the Southall Borough Council was interested in the
scheme and anxious to support it as much as possible.
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