London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hackney 1972

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]

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44
All cases were considered as having a medical priority. 134 were given the
highest priority and 50 some degree of priority. A few applicants asked
for, and were granted, direct interviews with the Principal Medical Officer
concerned in order to present their cases. The number of families rehoused
on medical grounds was 117.
There are still families in need of 4/6 bedroomed accommodation, who
have been waiting for more than 3 years. Assessment continues to be based
on both medical and social grounds especially where families with children
are involved.
NURSING HOMES
There are now only three Nursing Homes registered in the Borough. The
St. Mary's Mother and Baby Home, (Sisters of St. Mary the Virgin, Wantage)
at 153 Stamford Hill, N. 16. , having closed at the end of September owing to
its poor state of repair and to the falling-off of need for the services it
provided.
The Nursing Homes remaining are as follows:-
(a) St. Margaret's Nursing Home,
262 Victoria Park Road,
E.9.
Until 1971, St. Margaret's provided two beds for maternity cases and
nine beds for chronic sick. However, owing to the fall in demand for its
maternity service this home now concentrates wholly on providing care for
twelve chronic sick or fragile elderly patients. It has been re-registered
accordingly.
(b) 'Crossways' Mother and Baby Home,
(Salvation Army),
Lanark House,
13 Laura Place,
E. 5.
Run by the Salvation Army 'Crossways' offers accommodation for twenty
expectant or nursing mothers and ten babies. Here too the declining number
of girls applying for admission to such homes reflects a changing social
climate regarding the unmarried mother.
(c) St. Joseph's Hospice,
Mare Street,
E.8.
This Nursing Home is in essence a hospital and has 102 beds. Half of
the beds are for the care of the chronic sick and half are devoted to terminal
cases.
The Regional Hospital Board undertakes financial responsibility for
sixty beds.
The Health Department is responsible for licensing these Homes and each
is periodically inspected by an officer from the Department.