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NURSING, EXTRA NOURISHMENT AND SHELTERS.
As in previous years the District Nurses have been asked to
visit many of our patients who are suffering from tuberculosis,
and are being treated at home; 3,793 visits were paid by the
nurses in 1938. A limited provision is made for the supply of
extra nourishment to tuberculous persons, and this usually takes
the form of eggs and milk; 142 patients received help in this
way during the year. The scheme for the provision of shelters
has been continued and thirteen shelters are at present in use.
LADY ALMONER.
The Lady Almoner has a variety of duties which are concerned
chiefly in the after-care of tuberculous patients. She
arranges for assistance to be given to patients in a number of
different ways as for instance in the supply of extra nourishment,
the provision of beds, bedsteads and nursing utensils. In a few
cases she has been able to arrange for a period of rest in a convalescent
home, or for a country holiday in the case of exhausted
mothers. She regularly visits the homes of patients who are
undergoing treatment in sanatoria in order to keep the relatives
informed as to the patients' progress, and to see that proper
provision is made for the patient's return. In addition to these
duties the Lady Almoner acts as Child Protection Visitor under
Part XIII of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.