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45
A contribution towards the cost of the convalescent holiday
is made by the patient after assessment.
During the year 102 cases received this service.
Provision of Sickroom Equipment
Disposable The Department holds a very large stock of sickroom
Incontinence equipment, which is issued on loan to persons requiring it
Pads because of illness at home. A list of the equipment available
is shown in Appendix 15. Items in particularly brisk demand
are invalid chairs, air rings, commodes, rubber sheets,
bedpans and urinals. Large quantities of disposable paper
pads for incontinent patients are issued weekly. If the family
is unable to dispose of the soiled sheets by burning, they are
collected and burnt in the furnace at Goodmayes Hospital.
The Department also runs a laundry service for the bed linen
of incontinent patients.
Chiropody
There are seven Chiropodists on the establishment, but it
was not possible to fill all of the posts and a large amount of
the work is done by chiropodists employed on a sessional
basis.
The bulk of the work is concerned with the elderly above
pensionable age and a very valuable service is performed in
keeping elderly people mobile and self-sufficient. If possible,
elderly people are seen at chiropody clinics, but if necessary
domiciliary visits are made. A small charge is made to those
who can afford it.
The service is also available to expectant mothers, the
physically handicapped and school children. Details of the
patients seen are shown in Appendix 16.
Health Visitors
Occupational
Therapy
Tubercolosis After-Care
Three full-time Tuberculosis Visitors are attached to the
Ilford Chest Clinic and one full-time and one part-time visitor
to Harts Hospital. A very close liaison is maintained with the
Chest Clinics and the after-care services are closely integrated.
The domiciliary occupational therapist who worked parttime
in the Borough has resigned and has not been replaced
yet. There are not enough tuberculosis patients to warrant
the employment of a full-time occupational therapist for this