London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hackney 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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Apart from casework the workers in this section have frequent case
conferences with analogous workers elsewhere, and their observations are then
passed to a Co-ordinating Committee which consists of senior officers of the
various Council departments and other bodies.
During 1965, some 112 cases had been dealt with, and 20 families had been
reviewed.
In addition to normal work, this part of the department plays a great
part in the training of students for various branches of social science.
Amongst some of the students that the Department supervised during the year
were two from the London School of Economics and one from the College of Deaf
Welfare. Two students from the National Institute of Social Working Training
had started with the London County Council, Division 4, and came to the Borough
with the rest of the Section. One was a Chief Inspector, National Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the other a Child Care Officer doing
the one year course for experienced officers without training and leading to
the National Certificate which was awarded to both of them. They were in the
Section three days a week for seven months, and were responsible for working
with six families under supervision.
LOAN OF HOME NURSING EQUIPMENT
The Department holds a large stock of equipment necessary for nursing people at home: these include the following items, the numbers being approximate for the beginning of 1966:-
| Wheelchairs | 54 |
| Chair Commodes | 141 |
| Steel Commodes | 121 |
| Hospital Beds | 19 |
| Penryn Hoists | 18 |
| Easi carri Hoists | 8 |
| Sani Chairs | 4 |
| Mattresses | 28 |
| Bed Pans | 8 |
| Back Rests | 39 |
| Bed Cradles | 32 |
| Air Rings | 15 |
| Walking Aids | 46 |
| Harboro' Cradle | 4 |
| Fracture Boards | 92 |
| Rubber Sheets | 49 |
| Bed Blocks | 19 |
| Sheets | 32 |
There is a growing demand for the loan of these items, which are issued
on the recommendation of a doctor, hospital or district nurse, and on occasion
it has been necessary, particularly in the case of large items such as wheelchairs
or commodes for the patient's name to be placed temporarily on a waiting list
whilst delivery of new stock is awaited, or whilst articles are collected from
patients who have finished with them.
In most cases the articles loaned are delivered to the patient's home and
collected when no longer required. Each item is of course disinfected before
re-issue.
INCONTINENCE PADS AND INCONTINENT LAUNDRY
The Department provides a service for bed-ridden and other persons who
are incontinent. Depending on the medical need, patients are issued with
absorbable pads to absorb urine or faeces or, alternatively, arrangements are