View report page

51
them in this field are altogether too small to undertake the help
expected of us by the people of Tottenham. Of the many agencies
already described, having recognised positions in the provision of
care and attention, it will be evident that several had difficulty
in meeting that part of the problem which was theirs. Greater
still was the difficulty inherent in the lack of any one agency to coordinate
the work of the various separate agencies.
Realising, this the Health Department acted voluntarily as a
co-ordinating body in all cases brought to its notice. Advice was
given to all persons and organisations requesting it. The various
needs of cases were brought to the attention of those properly concerned
with meeting those needs, and, by maintaining touch with
cases, these needs were pressed until, so far as possible, they were
met. All cases requ'ring special attention were visited.
By these means, by adviee, allocation, co-ordination and
action, Tottenham people requiring care at home were provided, as
requisite, with medical care, nursing, visiting and home help.
In other special cases, with the family doctor's or the Area Welfare
Officer's help, we were able to arrange, according to urgency,
admission t6 a hospital or residential home, and for many others
to be more favourably placed in respect of admission than they
would have been without our assistance.
Much of this voluntary co-ordination was done by telephone or
by personal contact, and only when necessary was writing resorted
to. Because of this, it is impossible to say how many Tottenham
cases were so assisted, but they did constitute quite a portion of the
daily work of the Health Department. When one reflects that
because of our voluntary, non-official, position in this matter, only a
percentage of Tottenham cases found their way to us, it will be
realised how great was the volume of work really requiring to be
done, and how great was the need for the creation of some known
local agency with power and position fully to co-ordinate all organisations
concerned in the giving of care and attention.