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18
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
The Chest Clinic Occupational Therapy Department has been kept busy
in 1970.
Of the new patients visited some were short term but most were long
term cases who find that time hangs heavily at home and look for new
interests and outlets. These patients are pleased to be taught something
new to do and in some cases to go to Social and Work Centres when the
weather permits.
Craftwork has been of a high standard and we have had a steady demand
for our products throughout the year. There was no Christmas sale this.year
as we did not have enough articles left to sell.
The main interest has been canework which the patients enjoy doing
especially since we changed to the use of plastic cane which is more pliable
and does not need to be kept damp. This enables the patients to work in
their warm rooms without the inconvenience of trailing wet cane backwards
and forwards from the colder kitchen.
This year we have also had one or two keen rug makers and stool seater
but these crafts are not suitable for the more frail patients.
PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY SERVICE
Very considerable use has been made of the facilities for bacteriological
and other laboratory examinations of public health nature. I take
this opportunity to thank Dr. W.R.G. Thomas, Consultant Bacteriologist at
Mayday Hospital for his ready assistance and most helpful advice which
have been available at all times.
For detailed figures, see Appendix, page 136.