[Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health, Breconshire County Council.

  • Breconshire (Wales). County Council.
Date:
1955
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health, Breconshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    34/118 (page 32)
    Section 28.—Prevention of Illness, Care and After-Care. Under this heading comes the after-care of patients suffering from tuberculosis, mental illness or defectiveness, all types of illnesses, the provision of equipment and apparatus (medical comforts) required for nursing the patients in the homes, and accommodation in recuperation homes. The local health authority, as was the case previously, is responsible for the pro- vision of extra nourishment and clothes for the patient and his family,: except in the case of patients who are in receipt of National Assistance, when these items would be the responsibility of the National Assistance Board. Provision of out-door shelters, special beds and bedding, and other nursing requisites, etc., is the concern of the local health authoxdty, and applicants for any of these services are dealt with after furnishing particulars of all members of the family income, etc. When assistance is given, it is either free of charge or on whole or part payment by the patient. The amount of payment to be made by the patient is assessed on an income scale adopted by the local health authority and approved by the Ministry of Health. Such items as wheel-chairs and crutches are provided by the County Council if the need is a temporary one, but if the necessity is likely to be permanent, then the responsibility for the provision of the articles rests with the Regional Hospital Board, such items being supplied through the Ministry of Pensions. Any applications of this nature are forwarded by this Department to the appropriate Hospital Management Com- mittee requesting them to deal with the case. Nursing requisites of a minor nature are provided free in all cases. (1) Tuberculosis — The treatment of Tuberculosis in the County is carried on by the Welsh Regional Hospital Board (Tuberculosis Division). Table Y (appended) shows the num- ber of cases notified on Form “A” during the year. Where necessary, the local health authority will provide tuberculosis patients with shelters on loan, and extra nourishment can be provided by the local health authority for them. The health visitors visit households in which there are tuberculosis patients and offer advice as to contacts and preventive measures which should be taken by them. Cases of bad housing conditions are referred to the local housing authorities. The local health authority, with the Regional Hospital Board, arrange for the joint appointment of medical officers who are em- ployed in connection with the local health authority’s services in relation to the prevention of illness, care and after-care of persons suffering from tuberculosis. The Domestic Help SScheme under Section 29 also plays its part in the prevention of illness, care and after-care of these cases.