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The Principal Medical Officer for Maternity and Child Health conducted the
sessions, aided by health visitors, the health education officer, the health education
technician and visiting medical specialists.
An analysis of the results obtained by the smokers' clinic was made again this
year by means of a questionnaire. This was sent to persons who had attended the
clinics during 1968, one year prior to the questionnaire, to discover their subsequent
smoking habits.
The questionnaire was sent to 76 men and 41 women, of whom 31 men and
16 women replied. Of those who replied, eleven men and four women were nonsmokers
one year subsequent to full or partial attendance at the course; three men
and two women had substantially reduced the amount smoked; and two men had
changed from cigarette to pipe smoking.
Of the thirty-three persons who achieved full attendance in 1968, nine were
known to be non-smokers after a year.
Recuperative Care
This scheme provides holidays for persons who are recovering from illness or
operation but who do not require nursing care. Normally, application is made 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 this scheme holidays were arranged for 79 adults.
Adaptation of Homes to Install Artificial Kidney Machines
There is increasing use of artificial kidney machines in patients' homes in the
treatment of chronic renal failure.
Hospital authorities provide and maintain the intermittent haemodialysis equipment
and provide the relevant medical services. They 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 and, in 1968, the
Minister of Health approved the making of arrangements by all local authorities for
these purposes and also the making of reasonable charges.
The 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
electric wiring and plumbing. In some cases it may be necessary to build an extension
to the house.
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