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
Hackney 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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| (1) Full cost recovered in 38 cases: | £ | s. | d. |
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) from liable relatives, death grants, and deceased persons estates (35) | 189 | 15 | 9 |
| (b) from Hospital Management Committee (3) | 27 | 13 | 6 |
| (2) Part cost recovered in 14 cases from liable relatives, death grants, deceased persons' estates and other sources: | 48 | 12 | 8 |
| (a) account outstanding (6) | 11 | 15 | 6 |
| (b) balance irrecoverable - no liable relative (7) | 43 | 14 | 11 |
| (c) balance "written off" by Public Health Committee (1) | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| (3) No payment made in 7 cases- | |||
| (a) account outstanding (1) | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| (b) no liable relative (4) | 40 | 7 | 0 |
| (c) written off (2) | 22 | 8 | 0 |
The numbers of burials arranged since the Act came into operation in July, 1948 are: -
| 1948 | 1949 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | 67 81 | 92 | 90 | 59 |
In connection with the welfare of the handicapped and aged two additional
services were inaugurated during the year:-
LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (GENERAL POWERS) ACT, 1953. SECTION 43 (Power
of sanitary authority to cleanse aged and feeble persons in their homes or
elsewhere), A scheme,, which includes the provision of transport when required,
for the cleansing of aged and feeble persons in their own homes or at the
Millfields Cleansing Centre was approved.
PUBLIC HEALTH (LONDON) ACT, 1936. SECTION 122 (cleansing or destruction
of filthy or verminous articles), It was brought to my notice from a
number of sources that the soiled laundry of incontinent persons in their own
homes was constituting a very real and serious problem. The Public Health
Committee in September authorised me to provide the necessary facilities at the
Millfields Disinfecting Station for dealing with this type of laundry. The
service commenced in November, is working very satisfactorily, and is greatly
appreciated by all concerned.
Other activities connected with the welfare of old people were:
Lord Mayor's National Air Raid Distress Fund During the year the Lord
Mayor's National Air Raid Distress Fund was closed and as it was thought that
all eligible claims had been covered, the money remaining in the Fund was
distributed for various purposes. Part of the money received by Hackney was
allocated to the welfare of the aged and devoted to the provision of holidays
and distress grants. Under a scheme administered by His Worship the Mayor,
which commenced in the latter part of the year 41 old persons were sent to a
Holiday Home at Westcliff,
American Food Parcels for Europe, During the months of December, 1953 and
January of the current year, some 1,500 parcels were distributed, under the
direction of His Worship the Mayor, to needy old folk in the borough.
Coronation Activities included arrangements for the television viewing of the
Coronation ceremony by a number of old people, and in addition provision was
made for a large number to see at local cinemas the film "A Queen is Crowned".