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37
7.—OCCUPATIONAL WORK AT CHEAM SANATORIUM
AND AT HOME.
Early in 1925 the Council approved the scheme set out in the
following report, suggesting the development of occupational work
at Cheam Sanatorium. The purpose is primarily to occupy patients
pleasantly and profitably while under treatment, as a direct aid to
effective treatment; but it is hoped by judicious selection of occupations
to help a certain proportion of patients to contribute substantially
towards the household income, even in advanced cases,
by continuing these occupations at the homes, or if it should prove
feasible and advisable in suitable workshops to be used by them in
common.
[COPY.]
REPORT ON OCCUPATIONAL EMPLOYMENT FOR PATIENTS
UNDER TREATMENT AT CHEAM SANATORIUM.
A.—Existing arrangements at other sanatoria.
The representatives appointed by the Sub-Committee to ascertain the
occupational facilities provided elsewhere for tuberculous patients have visited
the Cheshire Joint Sanatorium, Market Drayton; the Bucks and Berks Joint
Sanatorium, Peppards Common ; and the King George V. Sanatorium,
Godalming, all of which are known to have developed this aspect of their
work, while a previous visit had been paid to Leeds to inspect the workshop
scheme in force there.
My report of the 3rd September last gave some particulars of the Leeds
scheme. It is possible that, as the proposals set out below develop some
portion of the Leeds scheme—such as the provision of a central workshop,
and perhaps some of the individual trades there adopted, e.g., brush-making
and window cleaning—might be incorporated in the expanding arrangements
for providing suitable occupation for tuberculous patients. It is felt, how
ever, that a proportion of the heavier work undertaken under the Leeds
scheme is not suited to the type of tuberculous patient treated at Cheam,
and that the financial basis of the Leeds scheme, which is-entirely a private
venture, is not one capable of adoption by a public authority without extensive
adjustment.
The occupations provided at the other sanatoria named above are to a
large extent of a distinctly lighter and more sedentary type than those
followed in the Leeds scheme, and include the following:—Hand-loom
weaving of cotton or silk; fancy beadwork woven on small hand-looms;
basketry; raffia work; dyeing of raffia; leatherwork; netting of hammocks,
rabbit-netting, etc.; knitting, fancy needlework; while a further group of
occupations includes poultry keeping; rearing of blue Beveren or of Angora
rabbits for the sale of their fur; carpentry ; vegetable and flower gardening;
bee-keeping, etc.
In each sanatorium one or more paid handicraft instructors were in
charge of the work, the success of which was stated depend largely on
the personality of the instructor. The instructors were usually non-resident,
and received wages at the inclusive rate of £2 10s. to £3 per week for a
five-hour day. A standard rate of 2/- per hour was suggested at one sanatorium
as a suitable wage.
No cash payment was made to patients in any of the sanatoria. In
all, the products of work done during certain official hours were regarded
as the property of the institution, while patients were allowed to work in