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
Brentford and Chiswick 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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WELFARE
OLD PEOPLE
During 1958, 32 cases of old people in need of care and attention were
brought to the notice of the Public Health Department.
No patient was found to be in such conditions as to require statutory action
under the National Assistance Act.
Details of the 32 cases are as follows:-
| Removed to Hospital | 7 | |
| Removed to Old People’s Homes | 4 | |
| Remained at Home | ||
| (a) | meals on wheels provided | 2 |
| (b) | special laundry service provided | 1 |
| (c) | with Home Help | 2 |
| (d) | awaiting admission to Hospital | 1 |
| (e) | rehoused in Old Person’s Dwelling | 1 |
| (f) | housing repairs carried out and/or cleanliness improved | 5 |
| (g) | no help required | 5 |
| (h) | all help refused | 2 |
| Died at Home | 2 | |
During the year a total of 306 aged persons or aged chronic sick persons
in the Borough received help from the Home Help Service, and the Home Nurses
dealt with 586 old people out of a total of 959 cases.
These figures compare with 287 aged persons receiving help from the Home
Help Service in 1957 and 577 old persons being visited by the Nurses out of a
total of 978 cases.
Information supplied by the County Welfare Officer shows that during the
year 36 old people from the Borough were admitted to Old People's Homes through
the County Welfare Department, including one person previously brought to our
notice in 1957.
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 one such Home is situated in the Borough.
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