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

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Brentford and Chiswick 1962

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]

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A Home Work Organiser runs a centre where handicapped persons who are unable
to obtain employment in open industry but who are suitable for a certain amount
of light work are provided with this on a part time basis at the work centre
or at home.
Advice and guidance regarding personal problems are given, and membership
of a voluntary organisation catering for a particular handicap is facilitated.
Services to the deaf and dumb and the hard of hearing are provided by appropriate
voluntary organisations, to which the County Council makes grants in aid.
Brentford and Chiswick choral classes for handicapped persons are held on
Friday evenings at Belmont School, Belmont Road, Chiswick, Each year this class
takes part in the Choral Festival arranged for handicapped persons by the County
Council.
Two special coaches with hydraulic lifting device at the back are in use
for taking handicapped persons to club activities, handcraft classes and the
choral classes These coaches are for those who cannot travel by public trans
port or in any other ordinary car or coach Wheelchair cases can be lifted
into these coaches and travel while remaining seated in their chairs.
At 31st December, 1962, 122 residents of the Borough were registered as
generally handicapped.
Residents of the Borough needing any of the County Welfare Services briefly
referred to in this Report should apply to the Area Welfare Officer, Mr. J.F.
Cronk, at the Local County Offices, Great West Road, Brentford.
* * ♦ * ♦ * * * * * ♦ * ♦ *
The Brentford and Chiswick Group of the Middlesex and Surrey League for
the Hard of Hearing, meets weekly in the Borough, There are social meetings,
lip reading and speaking classes, talks and discussions, outings and visits to
other groups in the County. The Club has a Welfare Officer who visits sick and
housebound members, and in some cases the Club can provide financial assistance
The Group numbers 18 with an average attendance of 12-15. In addition to
these evening meetings, a new scheme for afternoon discussion groups meeting at
members houses is projected.
A club for the Physically Handicapped is maintained by Chiswick Mission
(a Branch of the Shaftesbury Society), The disablements are various and transport
is arranged by the Rotary Club for those who cannot travel easily. The
Club meets once a month for social purposes.
Holidays are provided for aged people at the Shaftesbury Society Holiday
Home at Broadstairs and several Brentford and Chiswick members have had two
weeks holiday there There is also a Holiday Camp at Dovercourt for the aged
physically handicapped to which several of the Borough s residents have been
sent.
The West London Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, which has some
20 members in this Borough, continued its activities during 1962 The work
undertaken included the visiting of disabled members in their homes the organis
ation of social meetings and the provision of financial help with holidays.
WELFARE = RELIEF OF DISTRESS
Brentford Philanthropic Society and Chiswick Philanthropic Society are
charitable associations which exist to give help to any in need who are as yet
outside of the many statutory provisions for Welfare. A request for help is
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