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At the moment this service is confined to cases receiving medical attention,
mainly for skin conditions, arthritis, paralysis and senility. It is very easy to envisage
how this service would expand if additional transport and labour were available
to bathe all elderly people lacking facilities in their own homes.
Cleansing and Treatment of Persons
The number of persons requiring treatment for scabies and verminous skin
conditions is almost the same as last year. A total of 126 people receiving treatment
for scabies, whilst 80 were given 83 treatments for head lice, 41 received 64 treatments for pubic lice, and 129 were given 134 treatments for body lice.
Due to the disturbing influence of our vagrant visitors, an attempt was made
in the Autumn months to restrict their attendance to one afternoon per week.
Autumn is the time for their "refresher before camping down for the Winter."
37 received treatment for varying verminous conditions and 7 others who attended
at other times did not keep the special appointments made.
In addition 345 treatments were given to 272 individuals from neighbouring
authorities.
Steam Sterilisation
This was a quiet year. 429 requests involving 3,614 articles were dealt with
compared with 6,741 the previous year. 919 articles from West London Hospital
and 352 mattresses from the Dairy Show at Olympia together with 761 articles for
6 neighbouring authorities, were the major items in this year's work.
Disinfestation
Requests for spraying of premises infested with vermin continue to decrease,
only 90 complaints being received in respect of bugs, 11 of cockroaches, 6 of flies
and 5 of fleas. As a precautionary measure 28 premises were sprayed prior to
removal of household effects to Council properties.
Disinfection
Premises are not normally sprayed following cases of the more common
infectious diseases unless a definite request is received. During the year 14 requests
for formaldehyde disinfection were received following death and illness. In most
cases the illness was not of an infectious nature and spraying was carried out as
a palliative treatment only.
HEALTH LAUNDRY
The new laundry continued to work smoothly during the year, providing help
throughout the prolonged and severe winter, when it was most needed.
This service cannot be provided by private enterprise as most of the linen,
from incontinent patients, is badly soiled and must receive special treatment. In
many cases the provision of clean linen once or twice a week provides that vital
extra assistance which makes all the difference to a family nursing a sick member
at home.