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Old People
The needs of 20 special cases of old people living in difficult circumstances were
investigated during 1962, and what happened to them is recorded in the following list:—
Admitted to hospital 3
Admitted to old people's home -
Remaining at home 17
(a) Rehoused 1
(,b) Home Help and District Nurse provided 2
(c) Home Help and meals provided 1
(id) Repairs to house awaited 2
(e) Awaiting housing for old people 5
(/) Awaiting old people's home admission 1
(g) No action required 2
(h) Chiropody 1
(f) National Assistance arranged 1
(j) Medical attendance and extra equipment provided 1
The difficulties of the old persons recorded on this list were brought to the notice of the
Public Health Department staff either by medical practitioners, interested relations,
neighbours or friends, or following complaint by one or other of the statutory authorities.
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 recognised 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 1962 was 19, only one of whom had been previously brought to
our attention in 1961.
It has been ascertained from the Area Medical Officer that 420 Southall people were
given home help during the year, and of these 356 consisted of chronic sick or aged persons,
and of 871 persons who were assisted by the home nurses, 341 were of age 65 or over, 118
male and 223 female.
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 house-bound
old people in need of the service. In 1962, 16,506 meals were delivered, an increase of
3,352 over the 1961 figure. One hundred and ninety-eight old persons were assisted by
means of this scheme during the year. The maximum number of old people receiving the
meals on any one day was 93, so that both vans were working to capacity on many occasions.
Special Christmas dinners (frozen pack) were delivered to 96 people and also to them went 96
special parcels to cover the Christmas period when meals were not being delivered.
Chiropody Service for Old People:
This service was continued throughout 1962. Five local chiropodists gave their services
at cheap rates for Old Age Pensioners. In 1962, Middlesex County Officers were empowered
to proceed with a scheme for the increase in the provision of chiropody as part of the County
Health Services and 68 old age pensioners had attention during the year at the Northcote
Avenue Clinic, the number of attendances by them at the Clinic being 343. The County
Council was able also to offer financial assistance to voluntary organisations providing
chiropody, and the Southall Old People's Welfare Committee reported the number of
treatments given during the year under this scheme to be 1,222, i.e., treatments at surgeries
27