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It is not possible to demarcate absolutely clearly these three categories, and inevitably some
overlap occurs.
A review of arrangements for the supply of loan equipment was made during the year,
with a view to rationalising the arrangements inherited from the former London County Council.
Under that scheme patients had obtained supplies from the district nurses' home, Montague Street,
WC1 and from two British Red Cross depots at Swiss Cottage and Camden Town. An additional
depot had been opened in April 1965 by the Health Department at Bidborough House.
The review showed several major disadvantages in the current procedure:-
(a) Items of large equipment were, for economy, issued long after they had become substandard,
out-of-date and shabby.
(b) Arrangements for the cleansing of equipment after return to the depots, were quite
inadequate.
(c) Charges were made for loan of equipment by the British Red Cross as the Borough's
agents, although the service was free if obtained direct from the Health Department.
(d) Liaison with other services - particularly the geriatric services-needed to be strengthened.
It was decided to stream-line the service as follows:-
(1) Direct supply of all items of large equipment to be made from
(i) Dennis Geffen Public Health Annexe, Pancras Gardens, Camley Street, NW1
(ii) Lithos Road Cleansing Station, Hampstead, NW3.
Items of small equipment (bed-pans, urinals, air-rings, etc.) to be available also at these centres.
(2) The British Red Cross depots, with grant aid to cover administrative costs, to loan
only small items of equipment. Requests for items of large equipment to be referred
immediately to the Health department.
Replacement of sub-standard equipment and new supplies as required to be made by
the Council.
(3) The Council's facilities for cleansing and sterilisation of equipment to be extended
to the British Red Cross depots.
(4) A single administrative scheme to be used by the Council and its agents.
(5) Arrangements for the notification of new patients requiring loan equipment to senior
nursing and social worker staff to ensure that the aged and handicapped persons would
have all necessary help and support.
(6) No charges for any loan equipment.
Requests for the equipment are accepted from hospitals, general practitioners, district
nurses, health visitors, the Camden Old People's Welfare Association and from private individuals.
The equipment is delivered and collected by the department's vans and health visitors and district
nurses confirm periodically that the equipment is still required, although it is hoped that recipients
or their relatives will normally advise the department when it is no longer needed.
Home nursing equipment loaned by the Borough during the nine months from 1 April, to
31 December, 1965, included the following items:-
50 wheelchairs, indoor 4 hospital beds
15 wheelchairs, outdoor 26 walking aids
12 back rests 100 armchair commodes
13 bed cradles 7 dunlopillo mattresses
20 bed boards 7 plastic mattress covers
3 adult cot beds 1 ripple mattress
2 easi-carri hoists
Numerous other items were supplied by the Red Cross Depots.
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