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REGISTRATION OF NURSING HOMES
32.1 One mother and baby home which was registered as a nursing home closed
during 1967, leaving 12 registered nursing homes in the Borough up to the end of 1968.
Although some structural alterations were made at one nursing home, the total number of
beds remained unchanged.
32.2 Three of the homes on the Register were mother and baby homes. There was
evidence of a gradual decline of occupancy of these establishments, probably largely
attributable to changing social factors coupled with the difficulties in staffing and
financing the homes. A principal medical officer attends Home Committee meetings as
the Council's representative, in which capacity she is often able to advise on aspects
of maternal and child health.
32.3 In accordance with the usual policy of providing a consultation service to
persons considering the possibility of applying for nursing home registration, discussions
took place about the possible conversion of 2 premises in 1967 and 3 in 1968.
In the event, planning permission was refused in one case and financial difficulties
arose in the others.
32.4 All of the nursing homes in the area applied to the Ministry of Health for
permission to carry out abortions on the premises under the terms of the new Abortion
Act and reports were made to the Ministry about the suitability and adequacy of the
homes for this purpose. Two of the three were granted licences for one year, which were
subsequently renewed; the third was refused because the means of escape and fire
precautionary requirements had not been complied with.
32.5 Routine visits were made by a principal medical officer and a senior public
health inspector to ensure that the nursing homes were properly run in accordance with
the Conduct of Nursing Homes Regulations, 1963, and the relevant byelaws. No major
defects were found.
32.6 The Planning Officer continued to give advice about fire precautionary and
means of escape arrangements, an important aspect of the patients' welfare.

* Includes 23 which are maternity, medical or surgical.
32.7.2 There were no new homes registered, and none registered on change of keeper,
in 1967 or 1968.
CERTIFICATION OF BLIND AND PARTIALLY-SIGHTED PERSONS
33.1 The Council's Welfare Department maintains Registers of blind and partiallysighted
persons in accordance with the provisions of the National Assistance Act 1948.
Such persons are examined by a consultant ophthalmologist engaged by the Council for
1 session a week, during which 3 domiciliary visits to patients are made.
33.2 The consultant's findings concerning the diagnosis, prognosis and suggested
treatment for blind or partially-sighted persons are recorded on a standard form BD.8, a
copy of which is sent to the patient's general practitioner after every examination. A
70
revised version of the form was introduced by the Department of Health
Security for use from 1st January 1969, differing in size and layout from
version and fitting neatly into the standard N.H.S. medical record envelope.
and Social
the original