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17
RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAYS
Under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act 1946, the Council is empowered to arrange
for admissions 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 1971, the Council arranged and accepted financial responsibility for the placement of 50
persons in recuperative holiday homes, and of these 31 were admitted to such homes and 19 cancelled or
withdrew. A further 15 applications were received, but were declined as not falling within the scope of the
scheme.
In addition, 20 schoolchildren were placed in recuperative holiday homes under Section 45 of the
Education Act 1944.
CHIROPODY
Table 9
The chiropody service provided by the Council for the elderly, physically handicapped, expectant
and nursing mothers, and children under school age, continued to increase during the year. Five thousand
and seventy patients were treated compared with 4,869 in 1970.
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 48).
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, two being in owner-occupied property and one in
Council property on the Chalkhill Estate which was carried forward from 1970 and completed early in 1971.
The cost of adapting a room suitable to home dialysis in this case amounted to £163.20. The two adaptations
in owner occupied property cost £359.45 and £159 respectively.
LOAN OF NURSING EQUIPMENT
The Middlesex Branch of the British Red Cross Society through its Divisions at Willesden and
Wembley continues to operate the loan of nursing equipment scheme on behalf of the Council.
Under these arrangements a hire charge is collected from the patient by the British Red Cross Society
and retained by the Society to enable it to purchase replacement equipment as required. If the patient is
unable to meet the hire charge this is paid by the Council. During 1971, 1,666 articles were loaned to patients
and £1,122 was paid to the Society to meet the hire charges. The Council arranges transport for the collection
and delivery of bulky articles.
In general, the scheme is intended to facilitate simple short-term nursing care in the patient's home.
Certain items of catheterisation equipment may be provided as a personal issue to paraplegic patients to
enable them to care for themselves in their own homes. Other items of equipment may be purchased in
special cases.
TUBERCULOSIS
(Tables 10-13)
Mortality and Morbidity
During 1971, 3 men and 1 woman died of respiratory tuberculosis compared with 3 men and 4
women in 1970. They were all in the higher age group one being in the group 45-54 and one in the group
55-64 and two in the group 75 and over. Three of the cases had not been previously notified to the Council
as suffering from the disease which indicates that there is still an undetected reservoir of infection among
older people in the community which holds hazards for the young and unprotected.