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8
The Geriatrician based at Kingston Hospital has the services of
a full'time Health Visitor and is able to visit and assess the needs of
all cases reported as requiring admission to hospital.
Continued shortage of beds in Hospitals and Homes causes delay
in admission during certain months of the year, but a desperate case
is invariably admitted in a very short time. Cases awaiting admission
are supervised by the Geriatric Health Visitor while those who are in
frail health are visited by the general Health Visitors.
A great deal is done to assist the aged by the local voluntary
services through schemes such as "Meals on Wheels", Old Peoples'
Clubs, Chiropody, etc. The Barnes Day Club is of tremendous benefit
to those who would otherwise be more or less house-bound, and there
is every reason to expect that existing facilities will be expanded in the
future.
Laundry Service.
The Council acts as an Agent for the County Council in providing
this service. It is confined exclusively to patients who are
incontinent, and articles laundered are limited to sheets and draw
sheets.
Although the number of cases served is small, the benefits to
exhausted relatives are enormous. It enables them to nurse at home
in comfort a patient who otherwise would have had to be admitted
to hospital.
National Assistance Act, 1948, Section 47.
In some cases the old people create their own problems by
refusing to leave their homes when they can only be properly cared
for in a Hospital or a Home. Under these circumstances it becomes
necessary for the Council to apply to the Court for an Order for the
compulsory removal of the patient to a hospital or other suitable
accommodation.
During the year 29 cases of old people in need of care and
attention were investigated, but formal action under this section of
the Act was taken in only one instance. This was the case of an old
lady who had lived alone for many years and had been neglecting
herself and her home more and more during recent months. She was
very dirty in her person and she repeatedly burned her legs by falling
asleep while seated in front of a gas fire. The situation became even
more unsatisfactory when she fell and injured her clavicle. As she
still refused admission to hospital an Order was applied for and she
was removed to Kingston Hospital. She settled quite nicely but died
some months later.