London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Hillingdon 1967

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]

This page requires JavaScript

44 Community Care
During 1967 one residential home was closed and two were opened.
Farnham Common House in Buckinghamshire, a Home for 30 aged persons was closed in February,
1967. For years it had been found impossible to keep the Home fully staffed and, consequently, it was
never fully occupied. Its situation made it difficult for relatives to visit, and the structure of the building
made it unsuitable for the admission of any but fully ambulant patients.
When the Home closed the remaining 13 residents were transferred to Belle Vue, Harlington Road,
Hillingdon.
Belle Vue—a new Home for 53 residents. (See plate 1 following page 64.) This is a particularly
interesting development as, in addition to the Residential Home, a number of Aged Persons' Flatlets
with warden supervision have been built adjoining. Extra dining room and lounge facilities have been
provided in the Home so that the residents of the flatlets may make use of the services provided in the
Home.
The scheme was planned by the former Middlesex County Council in conjunction with the former
Uxbridge Borough Council.
Brookfield, Park Road, Uxbridge, is the second new Home to be opened during 1967. This Home
provides for 54 aged persons and received its first residents on 3rd April. (See plate 3 following page
64.)
On 31st December, 1967, there were 390 residents (95 males and 295 females) in the nine borough
residential Homes. Other Local Authorities were financially responsible for 24 of these residents. In
addition, the Borough Council was maintaining 100 persons (37 males and 63 females) in Homes administered
by voluntary organisations, and 15 (6 males and 9 females) in other Local Authority Homes.

The following is a summary of admissions and discharges during the year:—

AdmissionsDischargesTo where discharged
HospitalDeathsHome AddressOther Address
Borough Homes2111435955722
Voluntary Homes2725101023
Other Authority Homes6431

During the year close liaison was maintained with the Geriatric Department of Hillingdon
Hospital. Aged persons in Welfare Homes who became in need of permanent specialised nursing care
were admitted to geriatric wards. Others were admitted on a temporary basis and later returned to the
Homes.
Some who had been admitted to hospital from their own homes with acute illnesses were, on
discharge from hospital, admitted to Welfare Homes because they were unable to manage alone.
Details:—
Number permanently discharged to hospital 36
Number discharged and subsequently returned to Home 23
Number of new cases admitted from hospital 40
Attention has already been drawn in the Home Nursing section to the liaison arrangements
between the Geriatric Unit and the Home Nursing Service.
Short Stay Admissions
The demand for temporary admission to Welfare Homes increased during the year and altogether
89 aged persons were admitted for short periods, as against 52 in 1966. The admissions were arranged
mainly to allow relatives to have a rest or holiday, but also to deal with emergencies such as the sudden
illness of a relative.