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* Each bed is registered for a maternity, medical or surgical case.
† Numbers include beds for medical and surgical patients which cannot be used if a maternity patient is
accommodated in the same room.
Welfare Committee establishments
Medical supervision of establishments of all types under the control of the Welfare Committee
continued. Hospital geriatric units are still reluctant to give beds to patients whose
general health cannot improve with medical treatment, although such patients are properly
the responsibility of the hospital service. The number of chronic sick residents in the
Council's welfare homes consequently remains at a high level. These residents in the main
have to be concentrated in the large homes because the small ones, particularly those
provided by adaptation, have very limited facilities for the nursing of sick persons: the small
purpose-built homes were, however, used increasingly for the elderly infirm because of the
special amenities provided in their design for the frail but ambulant patient.
It is doubtful, on humanitarian grounds, whether pressing for the transfer of residents
who have spent many years in welfare homes could be justified solely because they have
become chronic sick. However, the presence in large numbers of persons wholly confined
to bed and requiring constant nursing care creates problems in residential homes staffed
mainly by care and attention staff. An increasing number of trained nurses has to be
appointed to the large homes to act in a supervisory capacity in caring for them.
Care of the aged
In association with the welfare department, discussions have been held with representatives
of the metropolitan regional hospital boards and the Local Medical Committee on
the care of old people and the chronic sick in Part III accommodation. The home nursing
of old people, physiotherapy, chiropody and home help services were among the subjects
c*
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