[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Northampton County Borough.

Welfare (<continued) CHURCH SERVICES, SOCIAL CLUBS, ETC. Church Services were held twice on Sundays. A Social Club was held twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. A Deaf-Blind Social was held once a month. A Whist Drive was also held monthly, with some “ hearing ” players present to help in the play. Four parties, with a “sit down ” tea, were held in Northampton, and three outings were arranged for similar parties at Kettering, Welling¬ borough and Peterborough. Guides and transport were provided where necessary in connection with all the above functions. GENERAL HELP. Help in interpreting, etc., was provided for deaf persons at doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries, hospitals, etc. A hearing aid service was always available. Three persons requiring lip-reading lessons were taken twice weekly to Lip-reading Classes outside Northampton. Epileptics. Six are known to this Department:— MALES FEMALES TOTALS In Colonies . 1 1 2 In Residential Accommodation:— “ Nicholls House ’’ . 1 1 2 School children (See page 101) . 1 1 2 Totals . 3 3 6 When a scheme for handicapped persons other than the blind, partially sighted, and deaf or dumb is in operation in this County Borough, no doubt further epileptics will come to light. Spastics. The list of handicapped pupils on page 101 includes 8 scholars (5 boys, 3 girls) suffering from cerebral palsy. There is a Spastic Unit at the John Greenwood Shipman Convalescent Home. (See page 97). Meals for Aged Persons. The “ meals on wheels ’’ service, provided under Section 31 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, was inaugurated in September, 1950. The Women’s Voluntary Services, on behalf of the Local Authority, deliver the meals on three days a week—Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Different areas are served on the three days, thus enabling more old people to participate. The recipients paid lOd. per meal and the Local Authority subsidised to the extent of Is. 3d. per meal until 31st March, 1960. On 1st April, 1960, the price was increased by Id., and therefore the charge to the Local Authority became Is. 4d. per meal. 4,586 meals were served during 1960, and the cost to the Local Authority was £300 6s. Od.