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66
Loan of Equipment
To ensure the efficient nursing of patients in their own homes the
Council operates a scheme for lending, without charge, equipment
as distinct from those items which can be prescribed by general
practitioners. During 1965 the following articles were issued on
loan:— 251 commodes
60 wheelchairs
50 walking aids
32 hoists
24 rubber sheets
24 backrests
12 hospital beds with mattresses
12 fracture boards
8 bed cradles
4 ripple beds
The Council's provision of home nursing equipment is supplemented
by the British Red Cross Society. In addition to commodes
and wheelchairs, the British Red Cross Society provides smaller
items of equipment such as air rings, bedpans, urine bottles and
crutches. The Council is continuing to make a grant to the
Society to assist in maintaining stocks of equipment.
Home Help Service
Without this service many of the other health and welfare
services of the Borough would be seriously jeopardized. The
overriding problem is the difficulty of recruiting sufficient staff to
meet the demands and the service has to be spread so that all
applicants are given some service. Whenever possible some help
is provided but in many we should like to be able to give considerably
more. At weekends and Bank Holidays some staff are
always available to carry out emergency visits and give essential
service to people who are entirely dependent on the services of a
home help. Where possible neighbours, or in special cases relatives,
are employed to give assistance to a particular person or group
of people. Some of the work of home helps is carried out in very
difficult circumstances and it is not surprising that in an area of
high employment many people tend to seek a more congenial and
remunerative occupation. It is therefore greatly to their credit
that a large number of devoted home helps give such good service.
The following table shows the number of persons who received
home help service during the year:—