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
Sutton 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton]
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As, however, the Council will ultimately lose the 83 places allocated
at St.Anne's, the capital development programme includes two additional
homes with a further home projected into the future. In addition to the
Council's homes there are 22 private old people's homes in the Borough
providing 290 places. These are registered by the Council and are all regularly
inspected. Private Housing Associations are helping to provide more
accommodation by converting houses into flatlets for elderly people and the
Borough's own housing programme includes similar schemes.
The following table shows the age groups, (a) of old people actually in homes and (b) of old people on the waiting list.
| Under 66 | 67/70 | 70/80 | 80/90 | 90/100 | Over 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | 7.19% | 2.05% | 24.33% | 48.97% | 16.78% | 0.68% |
| (b) | 2.31% | 6.15% | 43.08% | 43.08% | 5.38% | - |
Meals on Wheels
The Meals-on-Wheels Service which is administered by voluntary
workers throughout the Borough, makes a very significant contribution
to the health and well-being of many elderly folk living in their own homes.
56,446 (52,000) meals were served during 1967*
The Physically Handicapped
The pattern of services for the physically handicapped has now
become well established. The Health and Welfare Department has become
the focal point of all manner of services to the handicapped and to those
citizens of the Borough who work with them towards the realisation of a more
complete and independent life.
Section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948 imposes a duty
to provide Welfare Services for the Handicapped (General Classes)
and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. These duties may be defined as follows 1-
(a) Informing handicapped persons of the services available to them.
(b) Giving instruction in their homes or elsewhere in methods of overcoming
the effects of handicap.
(c) Providing workshops where such persons may be engaged in suitable work.
(d) Providing handicapped persons with suitable work in their own homes.
(e) Helping handicapped persons to dispose of the product of their work.
(f) Providing handicapped persons with recreational facilities in their
own homes or elsewhere.
(g) Compiling and maintaining registers of handicapped persons.
(h) Providing residential accommodation in cases where the handicapped persons
can no longer support themselves at home.
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