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In a Circular to Local Authorities (14/66) the Minister of Health commended to
local authorities the provision of pads, waterproof pants, and knickers with disposable
linings for incontinent individuals.
The Borough already had a scheme in operation for the provision of such articles
but as a result of the Ministry of Health Circular family doctors in the Borough were
reminded of the service.
Incontinent pads are used where the degree of incontinence does not require the
sheet service and where the patient is doubly incontinent thus reducing the laundering
of soiled bed linen. The pads are normally distributed by the district nurses, but where
a laundry service for incontinent persons is also in operation, pads are sometimes
delivered by the van driver. Used pads are collected and destroyed whenever disposal
is requested because the householder has difficulty in dealing with this type of refuse.
Soiled dressings (including maternity debris) are also collected and disposed of in
the same manner, generally at the request of the domiciliary nursing staff.
There is an increasing call for this service and during the year approximately
1,040 collections were made compared with approximately 900 in 1965.
MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS.
The assessment of medical fitness of new entrants to the Council's service continued
to make heavy demands on medical and clerical time, and the number of assessments
undertaken considerably increased as compared to the previous year.
A completed medical questionnaire and a satisfactory chest X-ray examination
undertaken within the last twelve months are required of each new entrant.
A full physical examination is carried out in any case of doubt, and on all entrants
to teacher training colleges.
In addition, recommendations as to medical fitness to continue in the Council's
service were made following consultation with the family doctors concerned and
physical examinations.
The number involved over the year was:
Total number of medical assessments 1,636 (1,032)
Total number of physical examinations 364 (350)
Total number examined for continued service 53 (18)
Total number found unfit for further service 2 (6)
The figures for 1965 are given in brackets.
WATER SUPPLY
All the dwellings in the Borough are supplied from the Metropolitan Water
Board's mains, and I am indebted to Dr. E. Windle Taylor, Director of Water
Examination, Metropolitan Water Board, for the following report:
"a). The supply was satisfactory both as to quality and quantity throughout 1966.
b). (i) The supply was derived from the following works and pumping stations :
River Thames via Hampton.
No new sources of supply were instituted.
(ii) The number of samples collected and the bacteriological and chemical
analyses of the supply from the above sources after treatment are shown on
page 52. No fluoride was added, and where the fluoride content is indicated
it represents the naturally occurring fluoride in the water.
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