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17
Convalescent Homes.
Arrangements for the admission to convalescent homes of persons
who need nursing care or medical treatment while they are at the homes,
are made by the hospital Almoners on behalf of the Regional Hospital
Boards.
Persons who need only supervision and rest in homes which do not
provide nursing care or medical treatment are admitted to homes by
arrangements made by the local health authority. The usual length of
stay is two weeks, though the time can be extended on the advice of the
medical officer of the home. Patients or those responsible for them are
expected to contribute towards the payment of the charges of the home.
At one time recommendations were accepted from hospital Almoners on
behalf of those attending as out-patients of hospitals. To-day, however,
such patients are referred to their own doctors from whom most
of the recommendations are now received. The applications are submitted
to the Area Medical Officer, being passed to the County Medical
Officer who decides on the homes the patients are to go to. No charges
are made to the parents of children attending maintained schools who
are admitted to convalescent homes under these arrangements.
NURSING HOMES
Any person who carries on a nursing home in this district needs to
be registered. The responsibility for registering and supervising the
homes rests with the Health Committee of the County Council, as this is
not one of the services which has been delegated to the local Area Committee.
This year saw a further fall in the number of nursing homes
registered, and in the number of beds registered in the homes. At the
beginning of the year 17 homes were registered; these provided 196 beds,
of which 29 were for maternity cases. At the end of the year there were
16 registered homes which provided 172 beds, of which 22 were for
maternity cases. A demand which continues to increase but one which
has not been met, is for places which can accept elderly persons who so
readily might become patients needing nursing care and medical attention.
Before the war there were many homes in the district accepting
at low fees elderly persons not needing much attention. Unfortunately,
any provision of this sort still available cannot be obtained at the low
cost which is essential if use is to be made of the accommodation by
persons for long periods.
ESTABLISHMENTS FOR MASSAGE AND
SPECIAL TREATMENT
By Section 355 of the Middlesex County Council, Act, 1944, no
person shall carry on in this district an establishment for massage or
special treatment without a licence from the Council authorising him to
do so. There is a saving clause for registered members of the Chartered
Society of Physiotherapy and for members of the medical profession.
Before approving the licensing of any premises, the Public Health
Committee requires to be satisfied about its general suitability for the