View report page

19
individual problems (social, financial, welfare, health, diet) and interests followed by a
full medical check-up. The interview and findings are reported to the retiree's own
doctor, but no treatment is undertaken.
Laundry Service for the Incontinent Aged
The service is provided under section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936, and in
1962, 950 collections were made by the Public Health Department, an increase of 107
over the 1961 figure.
Baths
Free baths are available at the Public Baths for old people, who know that if they
need help they can call upon the Baths Attendants.
Library Service
Housebound old people may obtain upon request regular deliveries of library books
from the Public Libraries.
Hospital Services
St. Ann's General Hospital has wards providing 100 beds (60 female and 40 male)
for the chronic sick, and the extension of geriatric services is under active consideration
by the hospital authorities.
Persons in need of Care and Attention
Many problems are brought to the Public Health Department particularly in the
winter months where relations or neighbours find old people living in neglected
circumstances and often chronically ill or suffering from malnutrition. In many
instances it is possible to organise adequate care at home with the aid of the statutory
and voluntary services which are available. In others, after consultation with the
family doctor concerned, the consultant geriatrician at St. Ann's General Hospital agrees
to visit the patient and if appropriate arranges early admission to hospital.
Occasionally, however, the patient will refuse all help and twice it was necessary
to enforce emergency admission to hospital with Magistrates' Orders under the National
Assistance Acts, 1948 and 1951.
Another old lady who was living alone was in difficulty when a burst pipe flooded
her house and put the electric light out of action. The Area Welfare Officer agreed to
admit her to a home temporarily whilst action was taken to restore the house to a
habitable condition.