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86
Welfare Services for the Physically Handicapped (General Classes)
The Register
The Register is maintained in accordance with the requirements
of the Department of Health and Social Security. The
Medical Research Council Code of Diseases and Disabilities is
used for grouping the disabilities in the Register. A further 285
persons were assisted under the Scheme during the year—the
majority of the new registrations were 119 in category F (Arthritis
and Rheumatism) and 88 in category V (Organic Nervous Diseases).
A total of 1,150 persons were registered as at 31st December, 1968.
Visits by Social Welfare Officers to the homes of handicapped
persons in order to give advice and guidance on services available
to them or with their personal problems totalled 2,916 during the
year.
Transport
Towards the end of 1968 the Department purchased a minibus
which acted as a support vehicle to the two existing vehicles
fitted with hydraulic lifts to take wheelchairs. The mini-bus was
equipped with portable steps and grab rails were placed at strategic
points to give help with access to the side and rear entrances. This
additional vehicle enabled more handicapped persons to attend the
work centre at Penge. The Department's vehicles carried 15.342
passengers and travelled 39,656 miles during the year. Co-operation
between the Department and Voluntary Organisations owning
special vehicles ensured that the transport services were maintained
with a minimum of interruption.
Adaptations
Adaptations to the homes of handicapped persons were made
in 103 instances during the year at a total cost of £2,886. The
adaptations enabled disabled persons to become more mobile and
live more comfortable lives within their home environment. Access
runways for invalid tricycles and adapted cars, ramping of steps
for wheelchairs, alterations to toilets and the provision of grab rails
are all examples of work carried out. One severely disabled man
had the bannisters at his house replaced with cranked interior
handrails and as a result continued to use the rooms upstairs.
Personal Aids
A total of 373 aids to daily living were supplied during 1968.
The aids ranged from walking frames, pick-up sticks, bath mats,
and various toilet aids to more sophisticated equipment such as
ripple beds, Penryn and Easi-carri hoists. Amesbury chairs for
spastic children and geriatric chairs for the elderly disabled were
also issued. The total expenditure on these aids was £1,758. The
aids are issued on a permanent loan basis and are returned to the
Department when the client has no further use for them. This