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Mrs. B., a widow aged 79 years, is a cripple. She fell on the fire
and sustained severe facial burns. When she was visited at the
request of a hospital almoner, it was found that there were only old
coats on the bed. The patient's room was sparsely furnished and
contained a quantity of old clothes in need of cleansing. The laundry
was collected, daily meals were provided and arrangements were made
for the attendance of a '' home help."
Mr. and Mrs. C., aged 79 years and 66 years respectively, lived
in a two-room flat which was infested with bed bugs; the cat, moreover,
was permitted to eat from the table. The woman was paralysed
and bed-ridden, and her husband was unemployed in consequence of
a street accident he had sustained some time before the visit. Dirty
laundry was cleansed, and, after some persuasion, the man consented
to the attendance of a " home help Mrs. C. died shortly after her
removal to hospital.
During the year, 25 persons agreed voluntarily to enter London
County Council institutions because they were unable to devote to
themselves proper care and attention. Before their removal all these
patients were bathed and, where necessary, provided with clean
clothing. Only in exceptional cases, where persons will not respond
to offers of assistance, is it necessary to make application to a magistrate
for a committal order.
Many sick room requisites such as rubber sheets, bed pans,
urinals, commodes, back-rests, walking sticks, etc., have been supplied
during the year by the Council from its own resources, or by voluntary
and statutory organisations, and 14 homebound persons were provided
with wireless sets by the Wireless for the Bedridden Society on
recommendation by this Department.