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In addition, a ripple bed was provided by the council for loan to a patient
suffering from disseminated sclerosis. The electric hoist and ripple chair seat
provided in 1966 for a severely paralysed patient continued to be needed by the
same 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.
Incontinence Pads and Clothing
The council makes free provision of incontinence pads to suitable cases at the
request of general practitioners and home nurses. Three hundred and eleven patients
were supplied with 33,900 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 are provided.
Protective clothing in the form of waterproof pants and knickers with disposable
linings are available free of charge for persons who are incontinent by day
but are not confined to bed and who need this service. Fourteen patients were
provided with this service.
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, 5.7 whole-time equivalent including a Chief Chiropodist, provide
the service in 10 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,
1,843 patients made 7,878 attendances for treatment at 1,494 clinic sessions, whilst
a further 651 patients received 2,900 domiciliary visits for treatment.
In addition, 999 patients received 5,893 treatments at centres, chiropodists'
surgeries, or in their own homes, through the service provided by the voluntary
organisations.
That this is an expanding service is evidenced by the increased work done
again this year by both the voluntary and the department's services.
The voluntary organisations involved are the two local divisions of the British
Red Cross Society who provide the service at centres and in the patients' homes;
the Southgate Social Service Council who provide the service in chiropodists'
surgeries; and the Southgate Old Peoples' Welfare Committee who provide the
service at a centre and in the patients' homes.
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