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187
At least once a week special arrangements are made for the
collection and disposal of waste arising from the use of dialysis
machines in the home.
Loan of Equipment
Our scheme for the loan of nursing equipment and sick-room
aids (including gadgets) for handicapped and elderly persons
continued during the year. Such equipment is provided on free
loan at the request of the Family Doctor, District Nurse, Medical
Social Worker, Health Visitor, Old People's Visitor, etc. Total
issues during the year numbered 3,459 as compared with 3,441
during the previous year which is some 4 times greater than the
demands met during 1965.
Medical Arrangements for Long-Stay Immigrants
Long stay immigrants are often unfamiliar with our customs and,
in particular, ignorant of the scope and arrangements of the
National Health Service. Accordingly, at ports of arrival, they are
given a "hand-out" printed in languages which they are likely to
understand, the aim of which is to encourage them to get on to
the list of a medical practitioner in the vicinity of their residence.
Destination addresses are forwarded to the health department so
that they can be visited in order that they may be persuaded to
act on the advice given in the pamphlet. Special emphasis is placed
in trying to secure a chest X-Ray as soon as possible after their
arrival in this country. This is particularly so in respect of those
whose country of origin has a high incidence of tuberculosis.
Details of immigrant families with children are particularly noted
so that a health visitor can call and advise.
Regrettably, many visits prove to be abortive by virtue of the
fact that some addresses given are often merely those of convenience
or, on occasions, non-existent.
The following statistics show the number of immigrants notified
to this Directorate during the past 5 years. It would seem, at
the time of going to press, that 1972 will register a decided
increase.
Year Number of Immigrants
1967 289
1968 273
1969 243
1970 218
1971 214