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16
On 16th September the Health Committee considered Circular 11/70 issued by the Department
of Health and Social Security and agreed, as recommended by the Department, that vaccination against Rubella
(German Measles) should be offered to all girls in the Borough in their 14th year (i.e. aged 13).
The purpose of this recommendation is to ensure that as many girls as possible are offered protection
against rubella before reaching child bearing age, because of the known risks associated with rubella
infection in pregnancy.
Only a few vaccinations were done in the Council's clinics or by general practitioners up to the
end of the year, but there was an increase from the beginning of 1971 following publicity being given to
the scheme and the completion of the necessary administrative arrangements.
RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAY HOMES
Under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act 1946, the Council is empowered to arrange
for the admission to recuperative homes. Recommendations by general practitioners, hospitals and clinics are
accepted provided the medical condition is such as to indicate that patients require no form of medical or
nursing care, are able to walk and dress unaided, and are fit to travel by normal public transport. The
arrangements are intended for patients requiring a short period of rest, fresh air and good food to complete
recovery from a recent illness or set-back in health.
Patients in need of any form of medical and nursing care requiring convalescence are the responsibility
of the Regional Hospital Board.
During 1970, the Council arranged and accepted financial responsibility for the placement of 52
persons in recuperative holiday homes, and of these 35 were admitted to such homes and 17 cancelled or
withdrew. A further 32 applications were received, but were declined as not falling within the scope of the
scheme.
In addition, 19 school children were placed in recuperative holiday homes under Section 45 of the
Education Act 1944.
CHIROPODY
(Table 12)
The chiropody service provided by the Council for the elderly, physically handicapped, expectant
and nursing mothers, and children under school age, continued during the year with no slackening in demand.
Four thousand, eight hundred and sixty-nine patients were treated compared with 4,299 in 1969.
The service, which has been free since November 1967, was provided in the main by 3 full-time
and 3 part-time chiropodists employed by the Council, partly by arrangement with 5 private chiropodists and
partly by arrangement with the British Red Cross Society. Where treatment could not be given in a health
clinic or a private chiropodist's surgery, because of the patient's age or disability, arrangements were made
for a chiropodist to visit the patient's home.
Chiropody treatment for school children was provided under the Education Act 1944 (see page 65).
HOME DIALYSIS
Ministry of Health Circular 2/68 of the 4th January, 1968, informed local health authorities that adaptations
for the installation of kidney machines could be carried out under Section 28 of the National Health
Service Act, 1946, and that the Minister approved the making by the Council of such charges for this service
as the Council considered reasonable having regard to the means of the person concerned. Hospital Authorities
are responsible for providing the machinery and the running costs.
Three cases were dealt with during the year under review, all in owner-occupied property. One case
was carried forward from 1969 and completed early in 1970. In another case where the adaptation was for the
house-owner's son aged 20 years, the father required an extension to his house rather than adapting a room
and the Council made a grant towards the cost of the work. The remaining case concerned a married
woman in her late forties, and the adaptation of an existing bedroom was completed.
At the end of the year one case was outstanding, this being in Council property on the Chalkhill
Estate.
HOME HELP SERVICE
There were 981 applications for the service in 1970 and the number of cases receiving help at the
end of the year was 1,155. There are no longer any tuberculosis cases receiving help. Fifty-two bookings
were taken for home confinements and 48 hour discharge cases, but only 23 were helped, the remainder making
other arrangements.
The maximum charge was increased to 8s. 3d. per hour, and the rate of pay for Helpers to 7s. 10d.
per hour. The establishment of Home Helps is 95 and at the end of the year the full-time equivalent in post
was 90.5. An average of 91.7 full-time equivalent was mantained throughout the year. Eight persons were
employed as Neighbourly Helps.
The Organisers made a total of 5,998 home visits.