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OTHER SERVICES
Loan of Nursing Equipment
The local branch of the British Red Cross Society operates a loan of nursing
equipment scheme on behalf of the Council. The Society collects a small hire
charge from the patient to help offset the cost of replacement of equipment as
required. If a patient is unable to meet the hire charge, this is paid by the Council
which also arranges the transport of equipment where required. During the year,
a total of 3,564 items of nursing equipment was loaned to patients under this
scheme, including 280 wheel-chairs and 20 hospital beds.
In addition, an electric hoist and ripple chair seat were provided by the
Council for a severely paralysed patient.
Loan of Bed Linen
To supplement the laundry service for incontinent persons bed linen is available
on loan to those who might otherwise be unable to take advantage of the
laundry facilities. During the year, eight single bed sheets and one double sheet
were loaned.
Incontinence Pads and Clothing
The Council makes free provision of incontinence pads to suitable cases at the
request of general practitioners and home nurses. Some 350 patients, that is 23%
more than last year, were supplied with a total of nearly 33,000 pads during the
year. Soiled pads are disposed of mainly by means of the ordinary household
refuse disposal service. In the newly-built tall blocks of Council flats facilities for
disposal by incineration of pads are provided.
Ministry of Health Circular 14/66 commended to local health authorities the
provision of protective clothing in the form of waterproof pants or knickers with
disposable linings for persons who are incontinent by day but are not confined to
bed and who need this service. Arrangements were made to supply these items free
of charge to all those to whom they can be of benefit. Since its introduction, six
patients were provided with this service up to the end of the year.
Chiropody
This service is provided partly by the direct employment of chiropodists by
the Council, and partly by arrangement with voluntary organisations whose expenditure
on chiropody is reimbursed by the Council.
The chiropodists directly employed by the Council, of which there were, at
the end of the year, 4.8 whole-time equivalent including a Chief Chiropodist,
provide the service in eight Council clinics as well as providing a domiciliary
service for those patients unable through age or ill-health to attend the clinics.
During the year, 1,527 patients made 7,357 attendances for treatment at 1,403
clinic sessions, whilst a further 484 patients received 2,150 domiciliary visits for
treatment.
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