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It has been found that many of the people recommended for recuperative holidays are already
receiving support from other social services. Before an old person can be sent away it is often necessary
to enlist the active co-operation of the geriatric visitor both in supplying a report on the patient's
physical condition and ability to cope with the travelling arrangements and in discussing details
of the arrangements with patients and relatives. In other instances similar help may be sought from
the child care officer, family caseworker, mentalhealth social worker or welfare visitor. This arrangement
facilitates a free exchange of information and a greater understanding of the procedures involved.
During the year arrangements were made for recommendations for families to be checked automatically
with the Family Service Register. Many recommendations were received for old people recovering
from a recent illness and these were linked with the geriatric visiting service. Voluntary organisations
helped to overcome travelling difficulties in one or two instances.
Follow-up visits were normally made by social workers and health visitors.
The number of school children sent away by the Inner London Education Authority includes
a total of seventy children from Camden homeless families' accommodation who went to the Inner
London Education Authority homes at Bognor and Littlehampton during the off-season period under
arrangements approved by the Welfare Committee and the Health Committee.
REGISTRATION OF NURSING HOMES
There were few changes during the year in the registration of nursing homes. Two of the
non-profit making voluntary homes, previously exempt, but liable for registration under the terms of
the 1963 Act, were closed. These were the Fitzroy Nursing Home run by the Nuffield Foundation,
which transferred to new premises in the City of Westminster area and the French Hospital, whose
premises were purchased by the Ministry of Health. There were no new registrations.
At 31 December 1966, there were thirteen registered nursing homes in Camden, including
four mother and baby homes. A total of sixteen visits of inspection were carried out by a medical
officer and a public health inspector.
The health department was represented on the management committee of the four mother
and baby homes in the area by a senior medical officer who attended seventeen meetings during the
year. Following the retirement of Dr. J. Gastrell Lewis, the Health Committee appointed Dr. A.
Trevor Evans to the committee of the Hampstead Mother and Baby Home, 17 Daleham Gardens, N.W.3.
It was the policy of the former London County Council to authorise payment of grants to
mother and baby homes in respect of the cost of improvements.
In January 1966, the Health Committee confirmed the action of the Chairman in authorising
a final payment of £1,187.10s. to St. Pelagia's Mother and Baby Home in respect of the previously
authorised maximum grant of £4,750 spread over three years.
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