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42
the Care Committee. It may be taken as a general
rule that no financial enquiries are made by the Nurses,
who, nevertheless, obtain, in the course of their home
visits, a general idea of the economic and social position
of the family without asking direct questions.
2. Securing Extra Nourishment for the Patient.—
This is done through the Guardians, the Charity
Organisation Society, the Borough Council, and the
British Red Cross Association. During 1923 extra
nourishment was granted by the Borough Council
to 35 patients, at a cost of £27 9s. l0d. Last year
the amount expended was £29 0s. 11d.
3. Lending of Beds and Bedding, in order to enable
the patient to sleep alone. At the present time ten
beds are on loan from the Dispensary, and the British
Red Cross Association also provides beds in the cases
of ex-service men.
4. Making Assessments and Collecting Weekly Payments.—When
a patient is to be sent to an institution
by the London County Council the Committee makes
enquiries and verifies statements regarding income
and expenditure, recommending the amount of the
assessment to the London County Council. The
weekly payments are collected by one of the Care
Committee visitors, and in the course of these visits
any change in the financial position of the family
becomes known to the Committee.
Parents and guardians are kept informed of the
progress of their children while away in institutions,
and in this way friendly relations are established with
the Care Committee visitor.
5. Friendly Visiting and General Advice.—This
is helpful, and is much appreciated by the patients.
The visitor is sometimes instrumental in preventing
premature discharge of patients from institutions.
6. Convalescent Treatment and Boarding Out in
the country, either for the patient or a member of the