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The social welfare officers of both the health and welfare departments direct
their efforts towards preventing such circumstances ever arising. Health visitors
too play an important part in this work. Nevertheless, cases do arise from time to
time but seldom is it necessary to invoke these compulsory powers.
Usually supportive home care provided by the two departments enables the
person to remain at home. In those cases, where admission is imperative, the
officers generally manage to persuade the person to agree to this course. On two
occasions during the year it was only at the very last moment that the old persons
were persuaded to enter hospital of their own volition.
I am pleased to report that no action under the above legislation was necessary
this year in respect of the small number of cases referred.
LAUNDRY SERVICE FOR INCONTINENT PERSONS
Under the provisions of Section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936, and
Section 42 of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1956, a free laundry service is
provided for incontinent persons.
The laundry at the Adult Training Centre provides this service for the whole
of the Borough.
The service may be utilised on the recommendation of the patient's general
medical practitioner or the home nurse in attendance and a weekly collection and
delivery of laundry is provided.
At the end of the year 32 patients were being provided with this service,
involving the handling of approximately 240 articles per week.
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