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Little Sisters of the Assumption.
A grant of £100 was made to the Little Sisters of the Assumption in
respect of the domiciliary nursing service provided by the Order.
Loan of Home Nursing Equipment.
Under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act. 1946, the Council
provide on loan articles necessary for the efficient nursing of patients
in their own homes. Such equipment is normally lent only in instances
where the patient is under active medical treatments the equipment remains
with the patient as long as the medical need exists and no charge is made
for this service.
A supplementary service is provided by the British Red Cross Society.
During the year, the Council gave this Society a grant of £125 towards
this work.
The demand for all types of equipment has increased as indicated by
the 257 issues made by the Council, and 720 by the British Red Cross
Society, as compared with 219 and 711 respectively during 1967. There has
also been a pronounced increase in the issue of incontinence pads, 221
patients having been served compared with 130 in 1967.
Adaptation of homes to install Artificial Kidney Machines.
Ministry of Health Circular 2/68 was received in January, 1968, and
the first application for works of adaptation for this purpose - the only
one during the year - in May.1968.
The house in Chelsea, where the work of adaptation was required, was
the property of the family so that no difficulty arose on that score.
The estimated cost of the work to be carried out by the Council was £296,
which compared unfavourably with the figure of the order of £120 to £150
which the hospital authorities had said had obtained in other cases.
A number of difficulties were experienced as the work went forward
and, as a result, the cost increased to £420. Because of the age of most
of the property in the borough, and the fact that much of it is in
multiple occupation, it seemed likely that a similar situation would arise
in any other case which the Council were asked to undertake.
HOME HELP SERVICE.
The heavy demand which continued for this service was greater than
could be met in full by the staff available, although every eligible
applicant was given service.
The heaviest demand continued to be from old people, who comprised
80% of all households assisted, compared with 79% in 1967.