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
Wandsworth 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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68
OTHER PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
There are also numerous personal health services provided
which benefit persons other than mothers and young children,
and these are summarized below.
The work of the home nurses has continued steadily throughout the year but the following table shows a slight decline in the total numbers of persons nursed and of visits paid, compared with previous years.
| Age | First | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| visits | Revisits | Total | |
| Under 5 years | 66 | 267 | 333 |
| 5-64 years | 1,168 | 24,560 | 25,728 |
| 65 years and over | 2,200 | 95,246 | 97,446 |
| All ages | 3,434 | 120,073 | 123,507 |
Towards the end of the year preparations were made to give
up the offices of the Home Nursing Service at 109 Clapham
Common North Side, and to administer the service from the
Municipal Buildings. The move took place early in the new year
and provides the opportunity of close co-ordination with the health
visiting and midwifery services.
The service has been well staffed throughout the year. Four
nurses took the District Nursing Training Course at Chiswick
Polytechnic and were successful in obtaining the certificate.
Home bathing service
This service is now more closely linked with the home nursing
service and continues to provide a much needed service for many
elderly people who do not need full nursing care. All patients
receiving home bathing service are visited periodically by a trained
nurse.
Loan of equipment
general practitioners. The number of occasions on which articles were issued on loan during the year is shown below: —
| Air rings | 8 |
| Beds (hospital or cot) | 20 |
| Back rests | 22 |
| Bed cradles | 36 |
| Commodes | 246 |
| Fracture boards | 12 |
| Hoists | 18 |
| Mattresses | 10 |
| Ripple beds | 2 |
| Rubber sheeting | 8 |
| Walking aids | 16 |
| Wheelchairs | 48 |