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by general practitioners on behalf of their patients, who make some contribution
towards the cost according to their means. Except in special cases the period of
the stay is limited to two weeks. The majority of holiday homes used are situated
on the south coast.
Under the scheme holidays were arranged for 150 adults.
Adaptation of Homes to Install Artificial Kidney Machines
Ministry of Health Circular 2/68 was received during the year. This circular
described the increasing use of artificial kidney machines in patients' homes in the
treatment of chronic renal failure. The service is being developed as rapidly as
possible and the circular offered guidance to local authorities on the measures that
can be taken to assist patients for whom hospitals are able to provide this form
of treatment in the home.
Hospital authorities will provide and maintain the intermittent haemodialysis
equipment and will provide the relevant medical services. They will also pay for
the extra cost of electricity and for the installation and rental of a telephone
where this is necessary. They have not, however, powers to make adaptations to
the home.
A patient being treated in this way requires a room with space for a single
bed and the dialysis equipment, and a sink with a good supply of water. The walls
and ceiling of the room should be made crack-free and washable, and the floor
covering should be waterproof. Special storage space for one month's supply of
sterile dressings and of containers of concentrated fluids are required, together
possibly with special electrical wiring and plumbing. In some cases, it may be
necesary to build an extension to the house.
The circular explained that some local health authorities were already carrying
out adaptations approved individually by the Minister under Section 28 of the
National Health Service Act, 1946. To save time, the Minister had already approved
the making of arrangements by all local authorities for these purposes and also
the making of reasonable charges.
Immediately following receipt of this circular the Council was requested by
the Royal Free Hospital to use the new powers to facilitate the installation of an
artificial kidney machine in the home of a young adult patient. The necessary work
was promptly put in hand and completed by the Borough Architect and Planning
Officer in collaboration with the hospital technicians so that the patient was enabled
to return home and resume work. Regrettably, this satisfactory arrangement was of
short duration as the patient died a few months later.
Hypothermia
In anticipation of severe winter weather, steps were taken to combat hypothermia
in babies and old people, the latter constituting the main problem. Representatives
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