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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 is given as
a recuperative holiday home.
The inspection and approval of recuperative holiday homes was carried out bv a
medical officer from Southwark on behalf of nine other London boroughs. Daring the
year 41 existing establishments were inspected and 15 new homes were added to the
approved list.
A total of 165 adults and 45 children under school age were sent on a recuperative
holiday. Arrangements were made with the Inner London Education Authority on behalf
of 176 schoolchildren.
Advisory and Preventive Clinics for the Over-Sixties
These clinics provide facilities for a general examination of elderly people, and tests
are made for haemoglobin estimation, blood-pressure, urine, hearing and vision. No
treatment is given but the results of the tests carried out are notified to the general
practitioner concerned. Referrals are made for chest X-rays and, where appropriate, for
chiropody and cervical cytology. Advice is also given on maintaining standards of health
and hygiene and on benefits and aids available to them.
The number of sessions held during the year was 125 and 398 persons attended.
T.B. Care and After-Care — Adult Cases
The Council has no hostel for tuberculous persons, but, by arrangement, uses the
facilities provided by other London Boroughs or private homes or hostels run by
voluntary organisations. At 1 January, 1969 there were 13 men boarded out; 4 were
placed during the year, and 12 were still in care at 31 December, 1969.
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
arrangements to ensure that they learned of the National Health Service and how it
should be used, including registering on a list of a General Medical Practitioner in the area
of intended residence and having a chest X-ray if necessary. A card, giving this
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