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to sterilise. Rubber sheeting is giving way to plastic sheeting and
disposable incontinence pads are being used in increasing quantities
.
The management of heavy patients in the home still constitutes
a problem. Self-lift poles are available to those patients who, to
some ex tent, can help themselves. In other cases hydraulic hoists
are a great aid to the home nurse and the patients' relatives who
can manage to manipulate them, although they take up a great deal
of space which can be ill-afforded in a small home.
Domestic Help Service
The Domestic Help Service has continued to give valuable
service in 878 cases and the following table shows the help give
to the various categories of case during 1963:-
Category No. of cases helped Hours of Service
Aged 693 103,845
Maternity 33 1,167
Chronic Sick 131 20,867
(under 65 yrs.)
Other 21 993
(under 65 yrs.)
878 126,872
Recruitment and selection of suitable personnel has been good
and whilst it is true to say the "woman power" has be en adequately
and satisfactorily deployed, it is still difficult to afford complete
coverage of "case load" during peak periods of holiday and sickness
amongst the staff. At the close of the year 130 Domestic Helps
were employed.
To meet the "special needs" of certain cases. three women have
been employed in a temporary capacity and one wonders if this can
be looked upon as a "Good Neighbours Scheme" potential.
The area Domestic Help Organiser has made 1,180 home visits,
primarily of initial investigation, but having regard to the other
time-absorbing aspects of her work, routine visiting lags far behind
the desired standards and there is much to be said for the
ment of an Assistant Organiser, or case worker in this vastly
increasing field.
The first of a series of local training courses was launched
on 31st October, covering 8 sessions of 2 hours per week, at which
12 Domestic Helps attended. The talks and demonstrations wereI
supplemented by film strips on the following subjects:-