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
Merton 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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1 Senior Assistant Home Help Organiser.
2 Assistant Home Help Organisers.
2 Clerks.
1 Full-time Home Help.
163 Part-time Home Helps.
ORGANISATION
During the year there was a decrease in the number of Home
Helps employed owing to the general shortage of labour. Despite
strenuous efforts throughout the year to find additional staff there
were 15 fewer Home Helps in December, 1965, than in January, 1965.
Owing to this shortage it was not always possible to give as much
help as might have been wished. The situation was somewhat eased
by making fuller use of the Neighbourly Help Scheme whereby a
small payment is made to near neighbours in return for assistance
given to patients.
STATISTICS
The following table gives details of the numbers and types of cases attended and the hours worked by Home Helps during the year:—
| Total cases dealt with during 1965 | Total hours worked | Cases on books at 31st Dec., 1965 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic Sick and Aged | 971 | 161,334 | 819 |
| Tuberculosis | 13 | 1,551 | 9 |
| Acute Illness | 147 | 5,380 | 35 |
| Maternity | 118 | 6,687 | 4 |
| Totals | 1,249 | 174,952 | 867 |
As in previous years the demands of the aged category have
absorbed the greatest proportion of the increased help available, the
number of current cases in this category on 31st December, 1965,
being 819.
DETAILS OF SOURCES OF APPLICATIONS IN 1965
General Practitioners 441
Hospitals 241
Health Visitors 1
Home Nurses 1
Welfare Services 2
Blind Welfare 1
Maternity Bookings 142
Others 6
835
The Organiser and the three Assistant Organisers have paid 413
first visits and 3,668 re-visits to homes in connection with the service.
35