View report page

A single case sometimes involves two or three consecutive
days' visiting, not only to the patient, which takes
time, but also to relatives, and other contacts with statutory
and voluntary authorities, together with much letterwriting
and record-keeping.
The following two problem cases are not untypical,, and
there is much work to be done which cannot be covered by
casual "visiting".
(a) Mr. and Mrs. X.
Mr.X, a man of 65, and his wife, some ten years older,
were discovered by the Sanitary Inspector in a dark 100$
basement room in the Spitalfields area. Both were ill and
undernourished, and Mrs.X suffered from partial paralysis of
the legs which kept her in bed or in a chair. The husband
did the shopping. The room was stacked high with furniture
and rubbish, which even overflowed on to the large double
bed.
I visited the case with the Sanitary Inspectors, and
after consultation decided to try and -rehabilitate the. couple
and prevent their home from being broken up. To clear the
decks, both husband and wife were removed reluctantly under a
Magistrate's Order for three months - she to a hospital and
he to a welfare institution.
The district Sanitary Inspector got the landlord to
repair and decorate the room, impossible to tackle beforehand.
Under Section 122 of the Public Health (London) Act,
1936, the contents of the room were-removed for disinfesting
or destruction. The Assistance Board was approached and
gave extra financial assistance, which made possible the
purchase of a new bed, bedding and underclothing.
After three months the couple came home much improved
in health. The W.V.S. and Invalids' Kitchens provided
"Meals on Wheels". A male home help attended and the couple
were registered with a local general practitioner. Our mobile
bathing squad provided home-bathing for the woman, and
the man attended the public baths occasionally.
Thus supported from various angles, the household held
together precariously for 12 months or more. But gradually
they began again to deteriorate mentally and physically.
"Meals on wheels" were refused; they preferred fish and
chips and bought-pies. It was impossible to keep up the
constant supervision necessary
The husband developed pneumonia and refused hospital
treatment, but in a few days was removed to hospital by
-10-