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Despite the increase in staff there has been a steady increase
in the number of patients seeking treatment, with an unavoidable
increase in waiting lists. Alterations to clinic premises planned for
1966/7 will assist in the expansion of this service.
NURSING HOMES
There are four nursing homes providing a total of 72 beds for
acute and chronic sick persons, registered in accordance with the
Public Health Act 1936 (Part VI) and the Nursing Homes Act 1963.
These homes are the subject of regular periodic visits.
HOME HELP SERVICE
This service, which is both preventive and supportive, has
generally expanded faster than any of the other local health services
and is still a developing service.
In assessing the requirements of this service, regard is had to
various factors, principally the proportion of elderly in the population
(75 per cent. of the service is given to the elderly chronic
sick), the extent to which recipients are prepared to provide for
their own needs, and the ability and willingness of relatives and
friends to help as required. Availability of resources, both in
money and personnel, are also important factors.
Despite the fact that the proportion of elderly is comparatively
low, Havering provided in 1965 Helps at the rate of 0.75 per thousand
of the population, which compares favourably with the rate
of 0.73 Home Helps per thousand population mentioned in Command
Paper 1973.
During the year a total of 304,789 hours of service was provided,
and on the 31st December, 1965, 381 part-time Helps were
being employed. In general there has been no difficulty in recruiting
Home Helps, except in certain areas such as Upminster and
Rise Park. When this difficulty has occurred, it has necessitated
additional travelling by other Helps from various parts of the
borough to attend patients in Upminster and Rise Park.
It has become increasingly evident that the Home Helps act
as sentinels calling in other services as available, and they very
often have to act as "Social Workers." For these reasons in-service
training is being provided, and will be expanded during 1966.