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26 REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1963
unavoidable, it is a step which is taken with the greatest reluctance,
for the element of compulsion in itself may exert an adverse effect
upon the patient. The aim is always to help aged persons in every
way possible by virtue of the day-to-day services of the voluntary
and statutory organisations. In almost every case, these services
provide aged persons with sufficient care and attention to avoid the
need for resorting to legal action.
In January, however, during one of the worst winters in living
memory, compulsory removal to hospital was required in two cases.
The first was a bed-ridden old lady aged 87, residing alone in
distressing circumstances in the basement of a house scheduled for
demolition. After her admission to hospital, investigation revealed
that the patient was suffering from cancer from which she later
died.
The second patient, an old lady aged 81, bed-ridden and also
suspected of suffering from cancer, had consistently refused hospital
treatment despite the fact that her condition was deteriorating. In
this case, the patient succumbed to her illness two weeks after her
admission to hospital.
Bathing Attendance
A part-time woman bathing attendant is employed to visit the
homes of frail old people who require and would like assistance
with bathing in their own homes.
This service continued to be greatly appreciated by all those old
persons who received help during the year. Thirty-eight such
persons were visited, mostly at weekly intervals, by the attendant.
Cleansing of Soiled Linen of Aged and Infirm
The demand for assistance under this service continued to
increase throughout the year, the soiled bed linen or clothing of
ninety-six separate elderly and infirm persons being dealt with,
involving the collection, cleansing and return of 2,449 lots of linen
during the year. This constitutes an increase of 70% over 1962
figures.
Eradication of Bed Bugs
The methods employed for freeing infested houses include the
stripping of all paper from the walls, the removal of wooden mouldings
and skirtings and application of a blow lamp to the room surfaces.
Spraying of rooms by the disinfecting staff of the Council is
carried out, proprietary insecticides being used and infested bedding
is removed to the Disinfecting Station and treated by steam.