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GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES.
Hospitals.
So far as admissions to hospital are concerned,
most difficulty is being experienced in regard to the chronic
elderly sick. Admission to hospital of such cases has
become more and more difficult each year, due almost entirely
to acute staffing difficulties in hospitals. To the substantial
number of cases met with almost every week, we must
add the growing number of infirm, elderly persons who require
care and attention in some type of institution or
home, although they may not be suffering from any specific
illness and may therefore not require actual treatment in
hospital. It will be appreciated, of course, that the
admission to hospital of sick persons, and the admission
to a home or institution of an elderly individual, is not
a matter which rests with the District Council, unless we
have to take action under Section 47 of the National
Assistance Act, 1948.
The Public Health Department is nevertheless keenly
interested in the welfare of these most unfortunate individuals
and never hesitates to take such action as is possible
to alleviate their unhappy position. Thus, we co-operate
very closely with the Area Health staff in arranging for
the provision of Home Helps and Home Nurses. We also cooperate
with voluntary bodies, particularly the Friern
Barnet Social Service Council, and support general practitioners
in their approach to hospitals.
What we can do at the moment is almost entirely
palliative, and does not present any hope of a permanent
solution. The answer seems to lie very largely in the
setting up of more geriatric units in our large hospitals,
and the attraction of more recruits to the nursing profession.
Further homes to be provided either by the County Council
or by voluntary bodies are also required. As I have
already stated. these are not matters over which the Urban
District Council has any direct control. The Council will
still obviously be interested in the solution, and will, I
feel sure, be only too glad to press for measures which
should assist perhaps the most unfortunate section of the
community.
There is also the obvious need for an ad hoc
committee which will correlate the various activities being
carried on in the district in relation to the welfare of
the aged. Evidence exists that energy is being expended
which could be more properly and more effectively channelled.
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