[Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, St Helens County Borough.

  • St. Helens (Merseyside, England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, St Helens County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    37/78 (page 35)
    VIII.—PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER-CARE The Care and After-Care Sub-Committee met on six occasions during the year. The Sub-Committee consists of the following :— 5 members of the Health Committee, One representative from each of the following bodies : The National Assistance Board, The A4inistry of Labour and National Service, The British Legion, The Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association. As in previous years the specialised knowledge of the co-opted members proved of great assistance in the work of the Committee. Most of the work during the year, apart from the issue of nursing requisites for home use, was concerned with the welfare and assistance of tuberculous patients. TUBERCULOUS PATIENTS Provision of milk as extra nourishment. The scheme for the provision of additional milk which was started in 1950 was continued and developed during the year. Ehgibility for issue in each case was approved by the Tuberculosis Officer. A remission of charges was made according to a scale approved by the local authority. Thirty-three patients received milk during the year for varying periods. During the year the milk scheme was extended to include not only those patients actually suffering from tuberculosis, but also approved observation cases selected by the Tuberculosis Officer. During the short period of its introduction, however, no case of this type was recommended for the issue of milk. A review of the operation of the milk scheme since its inception has under¬ lined its use and benefit to tuberculous patients. There is no doubt that it has enabled many people to be supplied with two pints of milk daily who otherwise could not have afforded it. It has further reduced the danger that people in straitened financial circumstances might have to spend scarce money in milk as an essential medical food and so handicap themselves for the purchase of other essential needs such as coal, clothing and general foodstuffs. Provision of Nursing Requisites. The arrangements previously approved by the Health Committee for holding in stock various articles of nursing requisites, namely:—air rings, urinals, rubber sheetings, bed pans and bed rests, have been continued during the year. The issue of these articles was made in accordance with charges approved by the Health Committee. Loans were made as follows during 1951 to tuberculous patients :— Air rings .1 patient. Bed pans . 3 patients. Urinals—Male 1 patient. Bed rests .6 patients. Rubber sheetings .3 patients ^