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LADY ALMONER.
A care committee is usually considered to be an essential part
of a dispensary scheme. For a number of years the Tuberculosis
Care Committee in Bermondsey existed in a moribund condition.
Towards the end of 1927 it was decided by agreement with the
London County Council to abolish the care committee and appoint
a Lady Almoner. Miss Pike, one of the Tuberculosis Nurses,
was appointed to this post on the 18th October, 1927. She has had
a long and varied experience, and having been in the service of
the Borough Council for eight years has accumulated an intimate
knowledge of local conditions which has enabled her to do very
useful work in this position during the year.
All patients going to Sanatorium under the London County
Council Scheme are required to contribute towards the cost of
treatment according to their means. The assessments are made
and the contributions collected by the Lady Almoner, £246 being
the amount collected during the year. In addition, Miss Pike
is now responsible for other assessments in connection with the
provision of milk under the Maternity and Child Welfare and
Tuberculosis Schemes, and she also makes the assessments for
admission to Fairby Grange Convalescent Home. It is obvious
that the duties attaching to the post are numerous and varied,
necessitating in many cases visits to the homes of patients.
During the year 287 such visits have been made. Many other
visits have been made in attempts to find work for tuberculous
persons. These have included visits to various stores, factories,
and so on, and to the Labour Exchange. Having regard to the
present widespread unemployment amongst the healthy, it is
not surprising that great difficulty is encountered in finding work
for the tuberculous, and I think Miss Pike has been very successful
in managing to place fourteen patients in suitable work during
the year. A rather discouraging feature is the fact that so many
patients seem to become resigned to the idea of permanent disablement,
and are unwilling to make any effort even when work is
found for them. Three patients refused work after suitable
employment had been found, and two others left work almost
immediately. Eight discharged soldiers, pensioners, also refused
suitable work for various reasons.