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NURSING HOMES
All registered Nursing Homes within the Borough are supervised regularly by
medical and nursing officers of the department.
The number of Nursing Homes on the register at the end of 1969 was as follows:
Maternity Homes Nil.
Other Homes 5
Total number of beds 84
There was one cancellation during 1969.
NURSES AGENCY
At the end of 1969, there was one nurses agency on the register of this Local
Authority. 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 standard items of nursing equipment. A total of 2,065 loans
of various articles was made during the year. A small charge was made for articles
loaned, which was paid by the Council if the patient was in receipt of a supplementary
pension.
The Council owns some special equipment including hoists, mechanical and electrically
operated beds, etc. These items are loaned free of charge to patients requiring
nursing care During the year 146 items of council-owned equipment were loaned to
patients.
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.
45 ripple beds and 7 ripple cushion seats were hired for varying periods during
1969.
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.
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