[Report 1970] / Medical Officer of Health, Petersfield U.D.C.

  • Petersfield (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1970
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1970] / Medical Officer of Health, Petersfield U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/48 (page 8)
    The Elderly The Council decided during 1970 to proceed with a scheme to build a further block of small flats with warden services at a site on Borough Roado It is hoped that a small number of these flats may bo available for residents in the Rural District. The bounty Council did not obtain a site for building a residential home for the frail in Petersfield during 1970. It seemed that their requirements for a central site of not less that three quarters of an acre was aiming too high, and it now seems inevitable that there must be delay in starting this project. This is unfortunate as there is a need for this accommodation, which it is hoped ?/ill include a much needed day centre for the elderly. Mention was made of the luncheon club for the elderly in the last report. This project was started by voluntary effort in January 1970 at the Community Centre. A hot lunch is cooked on the premises (in 1970 on an old and rather -uncertain cooker1) for up to 25 elderly people. The members of this club are selected by the Welfare Officer and loneliness is an important factor in choosing them, as apart from the lunch this is a pleasant social occasion. They pay lOp for their lunch; the actual cost is subsidised beyond this amount by the county and urban district council equally. The Chairman came to extend his good wishes at the inaugural luncheon. Plans to enlarge the kitchen at the Community centre were deferred until the association had completed the purchase of the building from the county council, but in fact this work was done in February 1971, and a new gas cooker and hot cabinet was bought by public subscription. The club meets twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Family Doctor Service For some years now discussions have been going on about the building of a Health Centre at the rear of Petersfield General Hospital. The space available is barely adequate for what is desirable and considerable time has been spent in seeking ways to increase the area available, but to no avail. It seems unlikely that construction will begin for several years. There were no changes in the family doctor service, five practitioners operating from group premises and one from his own house. There are no nursing or Health Visitor attachments to these practices. Hospitals Petersfield Hospital and Heathside Hospital are both in the Portsmouth Hospital Group. The former is a cottage hospital at which some consultant outpatient sessions are held, the latter is a geriatric hospital. Medical attendance at both is provided by local general practitioners.