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39
SECTION 28 - PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER CARE
Loan of Nursing Equipment
The demand for this service is still heavy and during 1960, 1,352 items of equipment were loaned
to various types of patients.
In 1961, the number of items issued dropped to 871, this was a direct result of writing off as
irrecoverable many items of equipment issued since the beginning of the scheme to patients who had since
moved from the area or died.
The increase in the number of patients receiving treatment at the Geriatric Unit of Langthorne
Hospital on a "6 weeks in and 6 weeks out basis" resulted in an increase demand for certain types of equipment
such as Rubber Sheets, Bed Pans and Commodes.
If often happens that such equipment, once issued to an aged chronic sick person, is not returned
to the department for re-issue to another patient for several years and it therefore became necessary during
the year to double the stock of commodes and bed pans, with similar increased in other items of equipment.

At the beginning of 1961 with the agreement of the Physician to the Chest Clinic, the number
of Tuberculosis Visitors was reduced from five to three and a half, the redundant staff being transferred to the
Health Visiting Staff of the department.
There is no change in the procedure outlined on page 53 of my report for 1949 in respect of the
provision of free extra nourishment (milk and food) to Tuberculosis patients.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
As a result of the lack of suitable accommodation the "Therapy Class" was discontinued at the
end of September 1961 all patients who had previously attended classes, continued to receive Therapy in their
own homes.
All stocks of material were transferred to the main health office in the Town Hall Annexe, where
the Occupational Therapist was also provided with office accommodation.