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Personal Health Service
The personal health services for the area are administered from the Area Health
Office at the Local County Offices, Somerset Road, Tottenham, N 17, (TOTtenham 4500).
Area Welfare Service
The welfare service is administered in Tottenham by the Area Welfare Officer Local
County Offices, Somerset Road, Tottenham, N.17. (TOTtenham 4500) This officer deals
with the admission of persons to residential homes provided by the Middlesex County
Council.
Blind Welfare
The welfare services for the blind and partially blind are the responsibility of the
Middlesex County Council. In 1961 there were 239 blind and 85 partially sighted persons
living in Tottenham. The County Council's Welfare Department provides a home teaching
service which aims to enable the blind to lead as full and active lives as their handicap
allows. The majority of blind persons are not capable of employment owing to age or
infirmity, or may not be available for employment because they are housewives, in which
case they may receive instruction in carrying out their household duties. The home
teachers visit all blind and partially sighted in their own homes, hospitals and in
residential homes, to advise on their welfare and to keep them in touch with the available
social services. They give instruction in Braille and Moon Systems of embossed type
and in handicrafts. Blind persons are eligible for the loan of wireless receivers through
the British Wireless for the Blind Fund, and the County Council have a scheme for
assisting blind and partially sighted persons with the maintenance of wireless sets.
Other services include facilities for the placement of blind persons in employment
residential rehabilitation, training courses for mothers with blind babies, supply of
embossed literature, special equipment and handicraft materials, assistance in the
disposal of handicrafts, and assisted holidays for those in need.
Welfare of Handicapped Persons
The County Council's Welfare Department provides welfare services forthe deaf and
dumb and hard of hearing and other persons who are handicapped by disease, injury, or
congenital deformity, All of these are administered by the Area Welfare Officer and
in addition a Work Centre is in operation for Handicapped Persons also administered by
the Area Welfare Officer with a Work Centre Organiser and one assistant with help from
the W V S. Services to the deaf and dumb and the hard of hearing are provided by
appropriate voluntary organisations, to which the County Council makes financial grants.
The County Council supplies aids and appliances not otherwise provided by the National
Health Service and carries out where necessary adaptations to houses to enable a
handicapped person to become more mobile, provides holidays, arranges forthe disabled
to take part in social activities, attend handicraft classes, etc. Advice and guidance