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Red Cross, trade and professional organisations and local
charities, by appealing on individual cases. This money covered
extra comforts for the patient, wireless licences, holidays for the
family or help with furnishing the home after rehousing.
The B.R.C.S. continue to help with food parcels for some 30
home-bound patients each month whenever supplies permit, hut
I am told that these parcels are now in short supply. The Emergency
Help Scheme of the B.R.C.S. also sent parcels of invalid
foods to bed-ridden ex-Service pensioners.
For the married women patients, their chief worry is the care
of their children whilst they undergo a prolonged spell of treatment.
In 49 cases home help was arranged to enable the mother
of a family to have bed rest at home. Where children could not
he cared for by relatives, arrangements have had to be made with
the Children's Officer for them to be boarded-out with foster
parents or admitted to Residential Nurseries. In all, 23 children
have been accommodated.
From the male patient's point of view, his biggest problem
on his discharge from Sanatorium is often the difficulty of finding
suitable employment. With co-operation from a man's
employers it is often possible to secure sufficient adjustment in
hours or working conditions to enable him to resume his former
occupation. Where this is not possible, the Ministry of Labour
gives help and advice under the Disabled Persons Act. 68 people
were registered as disabled and for 31 of these, training in a
different occupation was arranged. There are now three men
working at the Bermondsey Remploy Factory for tuberculous
patients and five at the Waddon Remploy Factory. These men
are severely handicapped and unfit to work under normal industrial
conditions.
Arising out of these activities, 453 home visits were paid.