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48
In Circular 2/68 the Minister of Health stated that the expansion of the
programme for the treatment of patients with chronic renal failure by
intermittent haemodialysis was dependent on more patients being treated
at home: gave guidance about the scheme, and also issued a general
approval to local health authorities to carry out the adaptations necessary
for home renal dialysis under Section 28 of the National Health Service
Act, 1946.
Venereal Disease
Responsibility for the treatment of venereal disease is vested in the
Regional Hospital Boards and facilities are available at various hospitals
in the region—Central Middlesex and Hillingdon. Many of the London
teaching hospitals also offer treatment facilities. The special services
medical social worker dealing with the care of the unsupported mother
and child, is also responsible for the follow-up of defaulters from the
venereal disease clinic at Central Middlesex Hospital and is also concerned
in contact tracing and assisting patients with their resulting social
problems.
Section 29 — Home Help Service
This service was again heavily committed during the year providing
assistance in the home for a total of 1,522 cases. Again the heaviest
demand came from the elderly but cases of home confinement and acute
illness of the mother with a young family receive special priority.
The average number of home helps employed was 8 full-time and
84 part-time, being an equivalent of 48 full-time home helps.

Neighbourly Help Scheme
During the year, eleven neighbourly helps were engaged to provide
assistance to eleven cases. In these cases the aid of a friendly neighbour
is enlisted to keep a watchful eye and at the same time carry out a certain
amount of helpful tasks in the home of an elderly or chronically disabled
person. Arrangements are usually made for the help to call several times
a day for short periods, helping out by lighting fires, preparing a meal,
doing some shopping or some other household chore, but most important
of all, keeping in contact with the patient. This scheme works well and
neighbours are sometimes more willing to do this work for a person
they know rather than join the general home help service. On the other
hand, the old person concerned usually knows the neighbour quite well
and thus an amicible liaison is more easily established.