London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Richmond upon Thames 1966

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]

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Ophthalmia Neonatorum

(i) Total number of cases notified during the year_
(ii) Number of cases in which:—
(a) Vision lost
(b) Vision impaired
(c) Treatment continuing at end of year

NURSING HOMES
All registered Nursing Homes within the Borough are supervised by medical and
nursing officers of the Department.
The number of nursing homes on the register at the end of 1966 was as follows:—
Maternity Homes Nil.
Other Homes 6
Total number of beds 108
There were 2 cancellations during 1966.
NURSES AGENCY
At the end of 1966 there were 30 State Registered Nurses and 6 State Enrolled
Nurses on the register of one licensed agency.
LOAN OF NURSING EQUIPMENT.
The British Red Cross Society continues to operate a scheme for the loan of
nursing equipment. A small charge is made for articles loaned. This enables replacements
to be made. Where patients are unable to pay, the Council pays the hire charge.
The health department has purchased two special beds for use on especially heavy
or paralysed patients.
Six "Easi-carri" hoists are in constant use. Without these the nursing at home
of some of the heavy patients would present a real problem.
Alternating Pressure Pads
These pads known as "ripple beds" save a great deal of unnecessary suffering to
bed-ridden sick patients in the prevention and healing of pressure sores. 38 were hired
for varying periods during 1966.
INCONTINENT LAUNDRY SERVICE.
A free laundry service is provided exclusively for incontinent patients under
Section 28 of the National Health Service Act and Section 84 of the Public Health
Act, 1936.
This service which is provided twice weekly is carried out by a commercial laundry.
Sheets make up the bulk of the laundry but night clothes and other articles are
included where necessary. Transport of the laundry and distribution of the sheets,
etc. is carried out by the Corporation.
This service has proved invaluable and is greatly appreciated by the patients and
their relatives.
At the end of the year there were 50 cases receiving this service, compared with
29 at the end of 1965.
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