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46
Intermittent Haemodialysis in the Home
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. Hospital authorities provide and maintain the haemodialysis
equipment and provide the relevant medical services. They can also pay
for the extra cost of electricity and for the installation and rental of a
telephone where this is necessary. Adaptations required in the home
preparatory to the installation of the dialysis machine can be carried out
by the local authority under Section 12 of the Health Services and Public
Health Act, 1968.
During the year adaptations were carried out in two houses in the
Borough prior to the installation of home renal dialysis equipment.
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 1,550 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.
In October the Council was advised that a situation had developed in
which the resources of the present service were inadequate to cope with the
growing demand. This resulted in approval to the immediate recruitment of
twenty whole-time equivalent home helps and agreement to make financial
provision for a further twenty whole-time equivalent home helps from 1st
April, 1970.
The average number of home helps employed was 13 full-time and
90 part-time, being an equivalent of 54 full-time home helps.