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78
OTHER PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
There are also numerous personal health services provided
which benefit persons other than mothers and young children,
and these are referred to below :—
Home nursing service
The home nurses have had an extremely lively year and we have
been most fortunate in being able to fill the few vacancies which
have occurred. Chronic illness, much of it occurring in the older
age group is one of the major public health problems and it is
by the provision of health-teaching support to the family, and the
provision of direct nursing care for all types of illness or disability
that many have been helped to adapt to the limitations of their
illness and have been able to live in their own homes rather than
in nursing homes and institutions. The home nurses are being
looked to more and more as members of the team who can and
should play an increasing and central role in the integrated application
of community resources to the aged.

Home bathing service
This service is closely linked with the home nursing service and
continues to provide for the needs of many elderly people who do
not require trained nursing care. All patients receiving home bathing
service are visited periodically by a trained nurse.
Loan of equipment
To ensure the efficient nursing of patients in their own homes
the Council operates a scheme for lending, without charge, equipment
as distinct from those items which can be prescribed by
general practitioners. The number of occasions on which articles
were issued on loan during the year is shown below: —
Air rings 17
Beds (hospital or cot) 9
Back rests 31
Bed cradles 19