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14
" From the housewife's point of view, her chief worry is the
care of the home, if she is being nursed at home, and the problem
of seeing that the children are properly cared for while she is in
hospital. Where relatives were unable to help, Home Help was
arranged, and the children either placed in residential nurseries
or boarded out, by arrangement with the Children's Department.
These plans worked very well on the whole, with co-operation
from all parties.
" The most difficult problem from a man's point of view is to
find suitable employment, adapted to his disability. Some are
fortunate enough to be able to return to their former work, perhaps
with some slight adjustment in hours or working conditions.
Others, however, are less fortunate, and we rely very much on the
closest co-operation with the Disabled Resettlement Officer in trying
to find suitable openings or a period of retraining for those
who are sufficiently adaptable. The D.R.O. attends the Clinic for
conferences with the Chest Physician and myself, and individual
problems are discussed from all points of view, in an attempt to
rehabilitate as many as possible.
" 88 visits in all were paid to Coombe Wood Hospital,
Mayday, Waddon and Cheam Sanatorium, and these visits are
invaluable in keeping in touch with the patient and his home
worries throughout his treatment. In some instances, correspondence
courses have been arranged through the British
Council for Rehabilitation, with the joint aim of keeping the
patient profitably occupied and of preparing the ground work
for a better chance of employment on his discharge.
" Arising out of these activities, 443 home visits were paid."
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
"A class continued to be held at the Chest Clinic on Friday
afternoons for the benefit of those patients who are at home and
able to get about, but who are not yet fit for work. Arrangements
were the same as in previous years, and takings for the year
for materials supplied to patients amounted to £71 10s. 11d."