[Report 1958] / Medical Officer of Health, Durham County Palatine / County Council.

  • Durham (England : County). Council.
Date:
1958
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1958] / Medical Officer of Health, Durham County Palatine / County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    people realised the size this new permissive service would reach in ten years and even now the demand, instead of lessening, continues. In its rate of expansion the rise in cost of the service has been of importance, as recovery from householders is small, so that at times the service has had to be restricted and a waiting list set up. Against this financial consideration, however, is the fact that of all forms of care, hospital, part 111 accommodation and residential care of children, the home help service is the most economical. An important development of the home help service is the number of aged people who are cared for ; 90 per cent in 1958 ; many bed-fast ; many more house-bound, and more still ambulant but frail, or in some way handicapped. In some instances the families do much to assist but some are unable to undertake the whole of the care of the parents and the home help service bridges the gap. Others are without relatives and could not live at home without the help of this service. Their needs are met, and the service continues as long as the need remains. Often the home help voluntarily carries out such extras as writing letters, gardening, etc., so adding to the comfort and peace of mind of the old people. Where this is not possible, various welfare organisations are approached and requests are usually met with willing co-operation. In the latter part of the period under review the scope of the service was enlarged to undertake work in connection with problem families. These are cases which need much care and attention on the part of the organiser and hard work and patience on the part of the home help, especially where her presence is resented, but the goal of making a self supporting family, is often achieved. Health Education.—Each year exhibition stands on loan from the Central Council for Health Education showing a variety of topics have been displayed at child welfare centres in the county. In April, 1953, a sound film projector was purchased since when films covering a wide range of appropriate subjects have been shown to varying types of women's organisations. Later in the same year a film strip projector was purchased and this has been used to display suitable propaganda material to audiences at welfare centres. Mental Health.—Since the inception of the National Health Service Act mental health has been one of the major concerns of this Council and the problem has been given the fullest consideration. The seven duly authorised officers appointed in connection with the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts, 1890—1930, have had to deal with an increasing number of cases, the figures having risen from 786 as shown in the 1952 Survey to 1,231 in 1958. Mental deficiency has also been on the increase during the same period in that the number of mentally defective persons on the register on the 31st December, 1958, was 3,256 and the number under supervision by the health visitors was 2,022, compared with 2,884 and 1,903 respectively in 1952. Admissions to hospitals have shown some fluctuations during the years due mainly to the fact that the number of hospital beds is limited. In accordance with Ministry of Health Circular 2/58 and H.M. (58)5 the