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DOMICILIARY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Report on the Service Based on Dagenham
It has been said of tuberculous patients that "nature heals and the patient helps,
by securing rest, fresh air, proper and sufficient food and by maintaining a sanguine and
tranquil state of mind." All these, with the exception of the last, the patient secures on
on entering a Sanatorium and it is to produce the "sanguine and tranquil state of mind"
that occupational therapy has been introduced as part of treatment.
For the patient who is discharged from hospital, it has been found that the long
months of treatment have combined with the disease to unfit the patient for an abrupt
resumption of a normal pattern of living. All his functions and habits are keyed to an
inactive existence.
Among the many facilities for tuberculosis which are provided by the County Council
are the domiciliary occupational therapy arrangements. This service has been in
operation for some years. The patients are recommended for domiciliary occupational
therapy by Chest Physicians with close co-operation with the tuberculosis health visitors.
At present there is one full-time occupational therapist employed to carry out this
work. The areas covered by this scheme viz:—Dagenham, Barking, Ilford, Romford,
Hornchurch, Forest and Grays are visited for part of one day in each week. The visits
to new patients are made weekly at first, then fortnightly and finally, monthly. In view
of the fact that there is only one occupational therapist for these areas it will be appreciated
that only those patients who need occupational therapy as a treatment can be
visited. There could be a tendency to treat this service as a source of cheap materials
from a mobile shop to the detriment of the service.
The materials provided are paid for by the patient who is also loaned any equipment
required to carry out the chosen occupation. Completed work is sold when possible
and some patients make items for their homes or for personal use.
At the Dagenham Town Show each year a large variety of hand-made articles are
sold, followed by a Sale of Work organised by the local Tuberculosis Care Association.
Some of the patients enter stimulating and competitive work with good results—this
year at the Dagenham Town Show there were 3 first, 3 second and 3 third prizes as well
as 2 who received high commendation, out of a total of 20 entries submitted for various
classes. Successes were also gained at the Essex Old People's Welfare Committee's
Exhibition at Woodford Green, five out of six entries gaining prizes.
Many sales are made from a show case at 15/17 Thompsom Road, Dagenham, where
the occupational therapist has an office and store-room.
Some of the occupations undertaken by patients in 1961 were printing, bookbinding,
leatherwork, basketry, needlework, puppets, and rug-making. Two patients
have worked on rehabilitation courses with good results.
From the foregoing it will be seen that occupational therapy encourages new interests
and keeps the patient in the habit of work in order to prepare him for normal work.
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