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A grant of £100 was made to the British Red Cross Society towards the expenses
of running the scheme.
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 is expanding and at the end of the year there were approximately 95
cases receiving this service, compared with 70 at the end of 1967 and 50 at the end
of 1966.
Pads, waterproof pants with disposable linings are provided for incontinent
individuals. Incontinent pads, instead of sheets, are used where appropriate, thus
reducing the laundering of soiled bed linen. These are normally distributed by the
district nurses. Used pads are collected and destroyed whenever disposal is requested.
TELEPHONE ANSWERING SERVICE
The Telephone Answering Service operated by the British Medical Association,
Emergency Treatment Service, was used for emergency calls by the midwifery, mental
health services, and to some extent by the home help service, during the year. This
service has proved to be a very efficient method of dealing with emergency calls and in
the case of the midwifery service relieves relatives of anxiety if they are unable to
contact a midwife in the event of an imminent birth.
The service operates on a full-time basis for midwives, and at nights, weekends
and holidays for mental welfare officers. The Home Help service use this facility during
Bank Holidays.
Radio Telephone Service.
In January 1968, the British Medical Association Emergency Treatment Service
supplied on trial two radio telephone units for the use of the mental welfare officers
and midwives for a limited period.
Insofar as the mental health service was concerned the radio sets provided were
used by the mental welfare officers on night and weekend duties, the set being retained
by the officer during the preceding day, thus ensuring a daily 24 hour emergency cover.
With regard to the midwifery service the radio telephone was used by two midwives
working whole-time whose areas covered the greater part of the Borough.
In view of the success of the trial the Council entered into an agreement with the
British Medical Association Emergency Treatment Service for the use of five radio
telephone units on a rental basis. Four sets were supplied to the midwifery service and
one to the mental welfare service.
MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS
The assessment of medical fitness of new entrants to the Councils service continued
to make heavy demands on medical and clerical time.
A completed medical questionnaire and a satisfactory chest X-ray examination
undertaken within the last twelve months are required of each new entrant.
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