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and bedridden patients at home. This is provided under Section 28 of the National
Health Service Act, 1946, and is operated on behalf of the Council by the Middlesex
Branch of the British Red Cross Society. Under these arrangements, a hire charge
is collected from the patients by the British Red Cross Society and is retained by the
Society to enable it to purchase new or replacement equipment as required. Should
the patient be unable to meet the hire charge it is paid by the Council. From time
to time the Council purchases additional equipment at the request of the Red Cross
Society; the Council is also responsible for providing transport for bulky articles
to and from the patient's home.
2,746 articles were loaned to patients during the year.
INCONTINENCE PADS
The provision of pads for incontinent patients at home can be made under Section
28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946. The Council operates a scheme whereby
incontinence pads and polythene bags for their disposal are issued free of charge
for a limited period of time on the request of a general practitioner or as part of the
home nursing service; long term provision is not thought necessary as there is a
Council laundry service for such cases.
NURSES AGENCIES ACT, 1957
No new agencies were registered during the year. A re-registration was received
in respect of the one existing agency but this closed down early in the year.
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