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and are able on this account to attend for treatment in the evenings
only. The arrangement with St. Olave's Hospital functions
happily and is of great advantage to the Dispensary service in
that it enables controlled rest in bed to be obtained for a patient
at the earliest possible moment. The District Nursing Associations
have also given very valuable help, not only in connection
with the care of advanced cases, but also with regard to temperature
records of cases under observation.
LADY ALMONER.
The total number of home visits made by the Lady Almoner
this year has been exactly 1,000. Of these visits 958 were made
to the homes of tuberculous patients, while 42 were in connection
with other patients. A great many ether visits have been
necessitated during the year in the effort to obtain employment
for patients who have returned from sanatorium after treatment.
This is difficult and trying work, particularly as the patients
themselves often seem to have lost heart and are afraid of tackling
a fresh job when it has been found. In spite of these difficulties
quite a number of patients have successfully found employment.
The handicraft class continues to meet on Friday afternoons
except during the summer. The number attending varies from
time to time and is not very large, there have been four new
members during the year. Quite a number of patients have been
successful in selling articles made by themselves. The class
has been occupied mainly in leather, raffia and basket work.
The Lady Almoner has also been able to arrange for treatment
in convalescent homes for eleven non-tuberculosis patients,
chiefly contacts or relatives of Dispensary patients. In addition,
a short country or seaside holiday has been arranged for twenty
women and five children during the year. Various articles of
clothing have been provided to forty-five patients.
It is part of the duty of the Lady Almoner to make assessments
for the London County Council in the case of patients.