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76
It was with great pleasure that I heard from Dr. Tudor Lewis
that Mrs. Wavish, the Occupational Therapist, was going to take
over the Handicraft Class. Most of us have known Mrs. Wavish
for some time and I am sure already the patients are benefiting
from and enjoying her instruction. Although she had not been
with the Class long her presence was very noticeable on the handicraft
stall at the Sale of Work by the variety of articles that had
been made in so short a while. We look forward to the surprises
she may have in store for us at next year's Sale of Work.
The Mayor, Alderman Miss Gwynneth Morgan, performed the
opening ceremony at our annual Sale of Work in November and
showed great interest in our activities. I should like to thank the
members of the Committee and other helpers for all their efforts
to make the Sale a success and I am sure it was most rewarding
that the total net proceeds amounted to £220.
The Wandsworth Rotary Club remembered us again this year
and delivered Christmas parcels to six of our needy families. We
again gave Christmas gifts to patients at home and in hospital to
help with the extra expenses at that time of the year.
I think we can call 1969 a satisfactory year but it must be
remembered that without the assistance of the Women's Royal
Voluntary Service, the officers of the Department of Health and
Social Security and Labour Exchanges and other organisations
this result would have been more difficult to achieve. I must, however,
extend my grateful thanks to my Vice-Chairman, Hon.
Treasurer, Social Workers and every member of the Committee
for their constant help and support throughout the year and, last
but not least, to Mrs. Simpkin, my secretary, to whom nothing
seems too much for her guidance and help at all times, and I do
hope we shall be able to continue helping patients, both financially
and practically, in the years to come.
DEODORA CASSELS,
Chairman.
Care of old people
The Health Department has a major responsibility for services
provided for the elderly in their own homes, which include health
visiting, home help, home nursing and home bathing services.
Many old people living alone who have non-physical handicaps,
such as bereavement, loneliness or financial difficulties, are exposed
to health risks against which a community nursing team provides
a valuable safeguard. Many requests for visits to old people are
received from general practitioners, medical social workers, social
workers, as well as friends and neighbours. An initial visit is paid
by a health visitor or home nurse to assess the old person's needs
and they will then either follow-up themselves or refer the case
to another appropriate service.