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NURSES AGENCY
At the end of 1967 there were 30 State Registered Nurses and 6 State Enrolled
Nurses on the register of one licensed agency. The licence for this agency was renewed
for a further period of one year.
LOAN OF NURSING EQUIPMENT
The British Red Cross Society continued to operate a scheme on behalf of the
Borough for the loan of nursing equipment. A total of 1,987 loans of varying articles
were made during the year. A small charge was made for articles loaned. This enabled
replacements to be made. The Council purchases special equipment and larger items
such as hospital type and special beds and hoists, etc. Where patients are unable to
pay, the Council pays the hire charge.
A grant of £100 was made to the British Red Cross Society towards the expenses
of running the scheme.
Alternate Pressure Pads.
These pads known as "ripple beds" save a great deal of unnecessary suffering to
bed-ridden patients in the prevention and healing of pressure sores.
44 were hired for varying periods during 1967.
INCONTINENT LAUNDRY SERVICE
A free laundry service for incontinent patients is provided under Section 28 of
the National Health Service Act, 1946 and Section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936.
The service is provided twice weekly. Sheets make up the bulk of the laundry
but night clothes and other articles are included where necessary. A Corporation van
carries out the transport and distribution of the laundry which is- laundered, under
contract, by a local firm.
This service has proved invaluable and is greately appreciated by the patients and
their relatives.
At the end of the year there were 70 cases receiving this service compared with
50 at the end of 1966.
In accordance with the recommendation from the Ministry of Health in a Circular
to Local Authorities (14/66) pads, waterproof pants, and knickers with disposable
linings are also provided for incontinent individuals.
Incontinent pads, instead of sheets, are used where the degree of incontinence is
minimal 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.
TELEPHONE ANSWERING SERVICE
The Telephone Answering Service operated by the British Medical Association
Emergency Treatment Service was used for emergency calls by the Midwifery and
Mental Health services in the Borough as from August, 1967. This service replaces
the method whereby these officers could be contacted from the police stations.
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