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A really lovely Christmas Tea with all the usual fare, followed by the event of the
day, The Christmas Tree and the traditional visit of Father Christmas, every child had a
present, sweets and fruit. Marks to the generosity of so many kind friends (our Chairman
was able to pay us a brief visit and about 60 parents, friends, officials and helpers
crowded into the premises? a happy time if a tight squeeze for everyone).
Over the year we have had "Open Afternoons" for parents to chat, compare and complain
over a cup of tea and then discuss the needs and future plans for the children. We have had
visitors of all kinds, students from other kinds of work, those taking up this work and just
ordinary people interested in the handicapped child.
We all feel that we had a happy, useful year.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948. Section 47.
A few elderly persons needing institution or hospital care were referred to the
department as possible cases for action under this Section, but in no Instance was it
necessary to do so, arrangements being made either for the patient to receive the services
Qf the home nurses and domestic help, or to enter hospital voluntarily.
National Assistance Acts: Incidence of Blindness.
The Local Authority's duties under the National Assistance Acts are administered by
the Welfare Committee of the Council through its Chief Welfare Officer, All the information
contained in this report regarding the incidence of blindness has, therefore, been obtained
from the Welfare Department through the courtesy of the Chief Welfare Officer and the Blind
Welfare Officer.
During the year 1953, 47 persons were placed on the register of blind persons but two
of the persons newly registered died before the end of the year. It is noteworthy that no
person under the age of 30 was registered during the year as being blind. Thirteen persons
were registered as partially sighted, including two between the ages of 15 and 20, all the
rest being over 45. From the appended tables it will be seen that treatment has been recommended
for very few persons suffering from cataract or glaucoma, and it should be noted that
there is no evidence on the forms B.D.8 of any of them having already received treatment
before registration. No case of retrolental fibroplasia and no case of ophthalmia neonatorum
was reported during the year.
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