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58 Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1936.
An important duty of the Committee is to supply patients
going to an Institution with clothing. Many of them are short
of the clothing requirements of the Institution, and it is frequently
a difficult problem to get them fitted out properly. Much time
is spent by members of the Committee in collecting articles of
clothing from their friends, and a certain proportion of the funds
have also been expended in this direction. About 30 per cent,
of the cases sent to Institutions were supplied with the articles
required from the clothing store.
Some of the patients who are being nursed at home are
unable to obtain essential articles of medical equipment. Medical
and nursing requisites, comprising air and water cushions, bed
rests and feeding cups have been acquired by the Committee
and are supplied on loan to necessitous cases who require them;
the cost of medical and nursing requisites and special nourishment,
clothing, etc., amounted to £39 14s. 5d.
There are always a number of patients in an advanced stage
of Tuberculosis who are being nursed either at home or in one of
the London County Council's General Hospitals, particularly
at St. James's Hospital, Balham. The authorities of this Hospital
have given permission for members of the Care Committee to
visit Wandsworth residents suffering from Tuberculosis who
happen to be under treatment in the Hospital. During the year
152 of these patients were visited regularly by the Secretary of
the Committee.
Many of these patients are in hospital for prolonged periods,
and the visits are much appreciated. It is often found when talking
to the patients that they are in difficulties over their rent or insurance
payments, and may be worried by circumstances at their
homes. The Secretary inquires into all matters of this nature
and is able to assist in smoothing out many of the patients'
difficulties.
During 1936 the number of visits and interviews made by
the Secretary to cases attending the Dispensaries was 1,895.
During the year there have not been so many cases referred
to the various ex-service organisations, as there were fewer ex-