View report page

36
HOME HELP SERVICE
Although the number of new applications for this Service
fell slightly the total number of hours of service provided was
higher. The ageing section of the population makes greater
demands on the Service every year, and the number of cases
carried forward steadily increases.
With the national economy more dependent on woman power,
the aged and chronic sick can no longer be cared for entirely by
relatives and friends and must therefore seek help from some
outside source. Without the Home Help Service with a graduated
scale of charges, essential help would be denied to these people.
The supplementary schemes, i.e., Washing Service; Night
Service; Problem Family Service, and Disinfestation continued
to provide specialised help where it was required.
Set out in Appendix, page 113 are the details of the work
performed.
HOME NURSING
The Superintendent of the Croydon District Nursing Association
estimates that without the attention of the District
Nurses, some 50% of the patients attended would need hospital
care. 25% of patients accepted from hospitals are discharged
only on condition that further treatment is given by the District
Nurses.
In making these comments. Miss Dickinson emphasised that
the District Nurse is one member of the domiciliary team and
however important these duties may be, the full benefit can only
be obtained in co-operation with all the other domiciliary services.
In addition to routine District Nursing work, the employment
of the State Enrolled Assistant Nurse, who works in conjunction
with the Hospital Geriatric Department has continued.
It may be of some interest to list details of the cases she
attended during the 12 months period and these are set out below.
It is essential that the Nurse concerned can cover the
whole of the borough as she deals with selected cases only, and
her case load is necessary small in comparison with her
colleagues doing general district work.
On occasions, she has been engaged herself upon such
general duties.