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8
When an elderly sick person is living alone and admission to hospital
is essential, I have the active co-operation of the Physician Superintendent
of Kingston Hospital who controls the hospital beds for
such patients.
The less urgent cases, however, cannot be admitted and often the
domiciliary services fall short of the required standard. With the
help of District Nurses, Home Helps, and the activities of various
voluntary organizations these cases are cared for fairly well by day—
the chief difficulty comes at night when the burden is often too great
for even the most willing relative.
The whole problem has been under urgent and careful consideration
by the Regional Hospital Board and the Surrey County Council and
progress is being made.
A special Geriatric Unit is being established in Kingston Hospital
with a specially appointed Medical Officer in charge. This doctor
has the services of a special Health Visitor and has the responsibility
of assessing the urgency of all patients whose admission to hospital
has been requested by the General Practitioners. Where immediate
admission to hospital is impossible arrangements are made to provide
any domicilary services which may be helpful. By making suitable
treatment available at the Geriatric Unit it is hoped that a proportion
of the patients will be so improved that they can return to their homes
instead of entering permanently a hospital or Old Peoples Home.
In addition, old people who have asked for assistance such as Home
Help, will be more closely supervised by Health Visitors. It is hoped
that in this way, any other services required will be provided earlier,
thereby maintaining health and delaying or eliminating the need for
admission to hospital.
A lot remains to be done and time will be required, but attention
has been focussed on the problem and it is heartening to feel that a
start has been made.
There is no doubt that the future will see continuing improvements.