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is used for urinary pH, Protein, glucose, keytones and blood. Patients,
on leaving the clinic, are advised to have a chest x-ray at the local
mass radiography unit. When the haematology reports are available, the
completed examination form, which may include recommendations, is
forwarded to the patient's own general practitioner.
Not only is thorough medical assessment of particular value to any
person reaching a critical social milestone, but it is anticipated that
analysis of the information obtained from the results of such examinations
could be of value in planning for the medical and general care ofan
ageing population.
From the inception of the service in January 1967 until December
1968, 330 patients have been examined.
The Chief Education Officer has organised pre-retirement courses
in the Borough in which Senior Medical Officers have participated.
Several course members have expressed interest in these examinations
and with their general practitioner's consent have been included in the
sessions.
SECTION 29 - HOME HELP SERVICE
Home Helps
Miss Pemberton, Senior Home Help Organiser, reports:-
The Home Help Service continued to provide assistance to elderly
and sick people in the Borough during 1968.
1,941 applications for service were received and a total of 3,022
cases were served during the year, 2,273 of these being chronic sick
patients over 65 years of age.
At the end of the year 194 Home Helps were working in this Borough,
40 less than at the end of 1967. Considerable difficulty is being experienced
in obtaining a sufficient number of suitable women for employment
as Home Helps and it is therefore frequently impossible to give as
much service to patients as would be desirable. In addition, by reducing
the hours allocated to patients to a less than adequate number, a greater
strain is put on the Home Helps who are employed, thus making the jo
more exhausting for them.