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An application was made to the Marie Curie Foundation for the introduction of the Foundation's
'area welfare grant' and 'day and night service' schemes in the Borough of Camden: the Foundation
kindly acceded to this request.
LOAN OF HOME NURSING EQUIPMENT
The number of items of home nursing equipment loaned by the Borough during the year was
well over double the number loaned during the previous year and included the following:-
102 Wheelchairs - indoor
40 Wheelchairs - outdoor
36 Back rests
29 Bed cradles
245 Armchair commodes
15 Dunlopillo mattresses
10 Easi Carri Hoists
38 Bed boards
4 Hospital beds
1 Special Nesbitt Evans Bed
9 Penryn Hoists
1 Ripple mattress
1 Sponge mattress
2 Twin push-chairs
1 Child's table and chair
65 Walking aids
Disposable pads are available for use by incontinent persons and obtainable through the
the Council's geriatric visitors. These pads may easily be burned but cheir collection at regular
intervals is arranged where burning them may not be practicable.
From January 1967 incontinence pants have also been available on production of a note
from a doctor or any member of the department's nursing staff. Where necessary, delivery is made
to the patient's home.
HOME HELP SERVICE
The number of persons who received home help service rose by about 22 per cent. in 1966
(2,897) over the number served in 1965 (2,373) and this steady growth was due in part to the increasing
number of referrals from the expanded Geriatric Visiting Service.
Approximately 100 home helps took part in in-service training schemes. Members of the
staff of the Health Department, together with representatives of other social service departments
and outside agencies, gave home helps a short, but comprehensive, account of the total services
and thus showed them the importance of their own role in the team.
One of the contributions to the course which produced most spectacular results was that
of the librarian of the domiciliary library service. In her talk she asked the home helps to inform
her of any clients who would appreciate a visit from her, and the response was considerable and
continued over a long period.
It has not proved possible to recruit staff for a spring cleaning service to supplement the
regular visits of the home helps although the Committee agreed as an experiment, to pay two home
helps an additional 6d an hour to undertake particularly unpleasant tasks. Many home helps have
undertaken these special duties without additional pay.
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