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20
OLD PEOPLE'S WELFARE COMMITTEE
The following is extracted from the Chairma's Annual Report
Visits and General Welfare
During the year 2840 office interviews were conducted and 800 domiciliary visits
made In addition, 300 visits were made by voluntary workers This was augmented by
visits by young people from various schools in the Borough, and during the very bitter
weather they collected pensions, chopped firewood and brought in coal and shopping and,
where the water was frozen, they went to the nearest stand-pipe for supplies.
Meals-on-Wheels
Meals are distributed on five days each week and a total of 10,453 meals were
delivered during the year.
This service is dependent upon voluntary workers, who deliver these meals and a
friendly relationship is established which facilitates the introduction of other welfare
services should the need arise. More helpers are needed however if the work is to be
effectively maintained and the steadily increasing demand is to be met.
Chiropody Service
The Chiropody Service has increased the number of full sessions each week to
ten by the introduction of two evening sessions at the Lord Morrison Hall During the
year 1,024 old people received foot care at clinics and 3,429 treatments were given
Voluntary receptionists do much to assist the old people at the clinics, and the new
evening sessions are helped by young people from Parkhurst Road School An Appointment
Card system similar to one operated in hospitals is being introduced whereby a
patient is booked ahead This will reduce office work and allow sufficient time for an
alternative appointment if the patient notifies that the appointment cannot be kept
Domiciliary Chiropody Service has provided 1,560 treatments to housebound old
people. This service is continually in heavy demand and at the end of the year there was
a waiting list of 22 patients,
Clubs
The membership of the four Clubs totals approximately 530. 6,903 Club meals
were served during this year This is a drop by 1,490 on last year s figures owing to the
prolonged spell of bad weather, A turkey dinner was provided to 78 Club members as a
result of generous donations.
All the Clubs have arrangements for summer outings