View report page

I am indebted to Dr.G.HoHall, Consultant Geriatrician,
St.Helier Hospital, for his comments which are as follows :-
"As far as I can see, the main problem in the care of the elderly
is the increasing age and frailty of the majority of patients now referred to
the Geriatric Unit. The result of this is that in many cases rehabilitation
can only produce partial independence, supervision and care being required
in these cases. With the greater age of patients the relatives in turn
are often in the geriatric age group0 The greater employment of married
women has not helped either, in that many of the younger members of the
family, friends and neighbours are now not available to help.
The solution of the problem must lie in the provision of a much
more comprehensive domiciliary scheme. More flatlets with adequate warden
supervision, more welfare home places suitably staffed to cater for these
older and less independent people. More long stay hospital beds will,
in all probability be required, but the necessity to provide these beds
will to a large extent depend on the scope and the quantity of the Local
Authority provisions for the care of the elderly.
The waiting list for the St.Helier Group Geriatric Service
remained high throughout 1965 and has continued to grow.
A Day Hospital of 25 places was opened at the Cotswold Wing of
Sutton General Hospital in October, 1965, and it is hoped that in time this
will ease the problem. The Day Hospital, however, is dependent entirely
on the transport facilities made available by the ambulance authorities
and as their commitments are heavy, this is limited at present. Further
development will depend on the provision of additional transport".
National Assistance Acts, 1948 and 1951
Sectionv57 of the 1948 Act places responsibility upon the Authority,
on certification by the Medical Officer of Health, to obtain an order from
the Magistrates Court for the removal to a suitable place of persons suffering
from grave chronic disease or aged, infirm or physically handicapped, who are
living in insanitary conditions and are not receiving proper care and attention
from other persons0
Although a number of visits were paid during the year to elderly
persons thought to be in need of care and attention it was not found necessary
to use this procedure, the circumstances being adequately resolved by other
means.
The Work of Medical Social Workers
Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, places
responsibility upon the Council for making arrangements for the prevention
of illness and the care and after care of sick persons. That much social
disability leading to potential or actual family breakdown has its roots in
physical or mental illness has for long been recognised. Medical social work
has, therefore, become a well established part of the preventive health
services as well as playing an essential part in the after care of sick
persons. In order to deal with the social implications of ill-health the
special experience of the medical or psychiatric social worker is essential.
Through her insight into the aetiology and nature of disease processes
and the implications of medical or psychiatric treatment and with her close
relationships with health visitors, general practitioners and hospital
colleagues, she is able to do much to prevent social breakdown. Close contact
is also necessary with other agencies involved in family care and co-ordination
of effort is essential to ensure the most effective woik. A good start has
been made in this direction and with greater experience there is every reason
to believe that improvement will continue.
6