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58 Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1937.
from a relative often does much good, and the patient agrees to
continue under treatment. These cases are investigated and
assistance is only given where it would be quite impossible for
the relative to afford the fare. Financial assistance to patients
and relatives amounted to £139 8s. 0d.
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 40 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, feeding cups, invalid chairs, etc., 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 £57 18s. 2d.
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, and St. Stephen's Hospital, Fulham
Road. The authorities of these Hospitals have given permission
for the Secretary of the Care Committee to visit Wandsworth
residents suffering from Tuberculosis who happen to be under
treatment in these Hospitals. During the year 179 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 arc 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.