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These patients appreciate the Domiciliary Occupational Therapy service and
all work steadily to reach a high standard. Some patients are limited in the type of
work they undertake owing to their physical condition.
Work is sold at the Dagenham Town Show and also from the Showcase at 15/17
Thompson Road, Dagenham throughout the year. These sales enable the patients to
pay for the materials provided by the Occupational Therapist.
Sickroom Equipment Loan Scheme
Our Sickroom Equipment Loan Scheme continues to develop and expand to meet
the ever increasing demand as the scheme becomes more widely known. 1,256 Articles
were loaned during the year and 1,193 were on loan at the end of the year.
It is evident that many old people are greatly encouraged by the availability
of articles such as wheelchairs and walking aids of various types, to keep as active
as possible and not become bedridden.
The expressions of thankB which are received from time to time, particularly
from relatives after a bereavement, indicate that the service is greatly appreciated
and not least by our district nurses who find the ready access to suitable equlpment
a most acceptable aid for the nursing and comfort of their patients.
With the co-operation of the County Medical Officer, hydraulic hoists have now
been supplied through the County Welfare Department to a number of severely handlcapped
people. These appliances are much appreciated and do much to lighten the
burden of those who care for these unfortunate people in their homes.
The maintenance of a sufficient and suitable panel of domestic helps to meet
demands presents some difficulty because the service has to compete with the attractive
conditions offered by a wide range of industries etc., in the area which
employ large numbers of women.
The number of domestic helps employed is now 124, of whom 98 are on the
Regular Panel.
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