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54
2. Laundry for the Incontinent.
At a Conference convened by the Borough Council in 1953
on the problems and progress of Old People's Welfare reference
was made to the need for this service. Subsequently a report was
made to the Council that the service could be provided under
Section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936, which gives power "to
cleanse at the authority's expense upon a certificate from the
Medical Officer of Health or the Sanitary Inspector any article
that requires, to be cleansed in order to prevent injury or danger of
injury to the health of any person in the premises."
Authority was given for a pilot scheme to be put into operation
and it was decided that the laundering should be done by the contractor
to the hospital service after preliminary cleansing and disinfection
at the disinfecting station. The articles dealt with under
the scheme comprise mainly bed linen, night clothing or underclothing,
and provided the Sanitary Inspector issues a certificate,
renewable quarterly, the service is free to the patient. The service
can only be given if it is impossible for the washing to be done at
home by the relatives or a domestic help.
The necessary equipment was installed at the Disinfecting
Station and the collection, rinsing and disinfection is done by the
Disinfecting Staff. The scheme was put into operation on the 1st
March, 1954, and collection is made weekly, the articles being
returned completely laundered within twenty-four hours.
The following figures show the number of cases dealt with and
the actual cost up to the end of the year:—
Total No. of Cases 12
Average No. of Cases per week 4
Total No. of articles 1,287
Average No. of Articles per week 29
Total No. of journeys 336
Total Cost of Collection, Delivery, and Laundering
(i.e. excluding equipment) £146
approx.
The Council authorised the provision of equipment necessary
to complete the Laundry installation at Low Hall Farm, i.e. an
Electrolux Steam Washing Machine at a cost of £210 and an
Electrolux Hydro Extractor at a cost of £155.
3. Funeral Arrangements.
Arrangements were made in regard to the burial of 3 persons.
A new contract for burials under the National Assistance Act,
1948, was negotiated with the usual firm at a slightly increased fee.