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95
Clothing for the patients is a never-ending anxiety; it is quite clear that
the clothes which just do for home wear are not suitable for going away, nor
has the patient sufficient for sanatorium treatment; the ready money to provide
the necessaries is not forthcoming; it is a big extra expenditure which
few, if any, are able to afford. Night attire is perhaps the most difficult, as
this is practically unknown in the home, and is a necessity when going away.
Suitable work for the patient when he or she returns home is a great
problem ; in these days of unemployment it is impossible to pick and choose
and yet to return to some occupations is asking for the return of the trouble;
then again even if the work is suitable, employers are not always willing to
reinstate the patient. The Committee can only watch and help where
possible.
The Committee works in close co-operation with the local charitable and
official agencies and has on frequent occasions been able to obtain assistance
for families in need; for instance : —
E.F.—A man having to enter the local Hospital for treatment had his
pension stopped. Pending the re-adjustment of the pension, the local Red
Cross allowed the wife equivalent each week until the pension came through
again.
G.H.—The C.O.S. kept this family from sinking into dire poverty when
the father and third member of the family had to go into Sanatorium ; helped
the wife to get clear of debt and made a weekly allowance until one of the
patients returned home and resumed work; continuing to keep in friendly
touch with the family and now that sick benefit has been reduced making an
allowance so that the one who has come home should not go back in health
through lack of proper nourishment.
During 1932 there were 143 decisions made by the Committee on Care
work; 142 assessments of new patients and 52 re-assessments.
Handicraft Centre.—At the end of May the attendance fell and the
Centre had to be closed as an L.C.C. Centre—that is, the teacher ceased to
be paid by the London County Council; rather than the good work should
stop the Committee decided to carry on paying the teacher from the balance
still in hand; the Centre was therefore only closed for the usual summer
holidays. There were eleven students attending fairly regularly at the end
of the year.
At the Exhibition held at Carpenter's Hall in October, we shared a
stall with the Westminster Committee and sold or took orders to the value
of £6.
! he Students take a great interest in their work and it is of value to them
from the recreative point of view as well as physically good for them to have
change of scenery and something to talk about besides their own bad health.
Their basket work is extremely good ; as also the string stools they make.