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COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES
Recuperative Holidays
Recuperative holidays are provided on medical recommendation under Section
22 and Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, for persons who, following a
recent illness, are in need of rest, good food and fresh air, but who do not require regular
medical supervision or organised nursing care. The categories of patients eligible include:
mothers with babies and young children; tuberculous persons; severely physically
handicapped adults; old people; the chronic sick (following exacerbation of illness);
other adults. Provision is made for schoolchildren under the Education Act, 1944.
The majority of homes used are privately owned and offer varying standards of
accommodation, hygiene and regulations. Acceptance of financial responsibility for
recuperative holiday patients implies responsibility for their care and well-being and it is
essential therefore that the establishments should be inspected before approval as a
recuperative holiday home is given.
In 1968 the London Borough of Southwark started the scheme of inspection and
approval of recuperative holiday homes on behalf of nine other London Boroughs. During
the year twenty five visits were made and nine new homes were added to the approved
list.
A total of 149 adults and 32 children under school age were sent on recuperative
holidays; in addition arrangements were made with the Inner London Education
Authority for 176 schoolchildren to have a recuperative holiday.
Advisory and Preventive Clinics for the Over Sixties
These clinics which commenced in January have provided an opportunity for
elderly people to have a complete medical examination and obtain advice on diet and
maintaining standards of health. In appropriate cases they have been advised of aids and
benefits available to them. Most people attending for the first time attend the mass X-ray
unit the following week and where necessary transport is arranged for them. Medical
reports are sent to the patient's general practitioner for any action he may consider
necessary. For the first six months two weekly clinics were held but due to the demand
an additional clinic was opened which operates on alternate weeks. The total number of
attendances for the year was 340.
T.B. Care and After-Care Adult Cases
At 1 January, 1968 the Council was financially responsible for 11 homeless
infective tubercular men boarded out in hostel accommodation. During the year 5 new
placements were made and at 31 December there were 13 remaining in hostel accommodation.
Medical Arrangements for Long Stay Immigrants
In order to deal with some of the special problems arising from the arrival of a
growing number of long term immigrants, the Ministry of Health in 1965 made certain
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