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to meet professional and administrative staff. Frequent group meetings were
arranged by the Superintendents in the areas to clarify and discuss policies.
Patients being nursed at home were able to obtain nursing equipment on
loan free of charge either from the Council direct or from the British Red Cross
Society acting as an agent for the Council.
Fireguards were also supplied to necessitous families with children under 12
years of age and to necessitous elderly persons. At the end of the year there were
523 out on loan.
Home Help Service.
The demand for the home help service continued to increase. During the period
1st April, 1965 to 31st December, 1965, the number of households helped by the
service was 4,287 and the organising staff made 7,438 visits.
The demand for early morning and evening help has increased since Section
1. Children and Young Persons Act, 1963, came into force. This is now an
important part of the home help service and from 1st April to 31st December,
1965, twenty families received 653 hours help. There were no requests for
residential child help or for night help for the chronic sick. Mental health case
requests increased; 15 families were helped during the period. Only two toxaemia
of pregnancy cases were referred for free home help service.
Maternity cases were fewer: in some areas there was no demand for such
help. Assistance to tuberculous households slightly decreased. The assistance given
to the sick and infirm elderly formed approximately 80% of the service: chronic
sick cases (aged from 15 years to 64 years) slightly increased.
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Item Out on Loan
Fracture boards 24
Hospital beds 4
Ripple bed 1
Quad, walking aid 1
Tripod walking aid 7
Zimmer hoists 2
Penrhyn hoist 33
Easi-Carri hoist 11
Bed with lifting pole 4
Dunlopillo mattresses 13
Air rings 2
Rubber bed pans 5
Rubber toilet seats 2
Back rests 15
Bed cradle 1
Bed blocks 2
Commodes 443