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45
When a case is brought to our notice that may need the service,
a visit is paid by the sanitary inspector to the household to confirm
that the case is one coming within the provisions of Section 84,
and to explain the working arrangements. A form giving the
articles that may be included in the service is provided, and the
relatives or some person able to accept responsibility is instructed
in the use of the containers and they are informed at what time
the Council van will be calling to pick up soiled linen. It has
been found in practice that a twice weekly collection and distribution
seems to cover adequately the needs of these persons, and
Tuesdays and Fridays have been selected and fit in with the other
work of the laundry service of the Council. The Public Health
Committee have purchased additional equipment which has been
added to the equipment already possessed by the Baths Committee
and this is available for other services when it is not being used
for the public health service.
The staffing of the laundry consists of two persons, a man
who receives, checks and disposes of the garments and a woman
who assists with the working of the laundry machines and packing.
All suitable materials are ironed before return and it has been
found from experience that the simplest method of transport is
by means of a metal container which can be easily cleaned and
disinfected and which is light and easy to carry. These containers
pack simply into the Council's van and they are all numbered for
identification purposes. The cost of these aluminium containers
is £2. 15s. Od. each. (Size 20 in. x 15 in. x 9 in.)—two are required
for each case.
The establishment of a service of this kind is unquestionably
one of great benefit to the community. Many of these patients
are in the last stages of some serious illness and it is impossible
for relatives to obtain relief from the laundering of clothes and
bed-clothes since public laundries will not accept such articles.
These patients are often being nursed and cared for by relatives
who have their hands completely full and the relief given by means
of this laundry service means a great deal to them. There is,
of course, an obvious link with the relief of hospital beds by the
taking of cases which need hospitalisation only in order to deal
with incontinency.
The following is a list of the materials that have been handled
from the start of the scheme to 3rd January, 1953, and the average
number of articles ret urned at each collection by the Health
Department's van:
Draw Sheets 2,124
Sheets 1,656
Towels 1,258
Pillow Cases 1,065
Handkerchiefs 1,032