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Vaccination against Tuberculosis
The Council's scheme provides for vaccination with B.C.G. (Bacillus CalmetteGuerin)
of persons who are contacts of tuberculosis, long-term immigrants, school
children and students attending establishments of further education.
During the year, 2,489 persons were vaccinated. Vaccination of contacts is
carried out by the staff of the chest clinic, and of others by the medical staff of this
department. A further report on B.C.G. vaccination appears in the section of this
report devoted to the School Health Service.
OTHER SERVICES
Loan of Nursing Equipment
The local branch of the British Red Cross Society operates a scheme for the
loan of nursing equipment on behalf of the Council. The Society collects a small
hire charge from the patient to offset the cost of replacement of equipment when
necessary. If a patient is unable to meet the hire charge, this is paid by the Council
which also arranges transport where required. During the year 3,199 items of nursing
equipment were lent to patients under this scheme, including 286 wheel-chairs and
40 hospital beds.
The electric hoist and ripple chair seat provided in 1966 for a severely paralysed
patient continued to be needed by the same patient and a ripple bed provided in
1967 continued to be used.
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. Four hundred and fifty-five patients
were supplied with 55,416 pads during the year. 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 are available
free of charge for persons who are incontinent by day but are not confined to bed
and who need this service. Sixteen 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.
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