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102
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 supply of cheap materials from a mobile shop to the detriment of
the service, which is a valuable form of treatment for patients
suffering from diseases of long duration.
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 home or for personal use.
At the Dagenham Town Show each year a large variety of handmade
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 firsts, 3 seconds, 3 thirds
and 2 Very Highly Commendeds gained out of twenty entries submitted
for various classes. Similar success was 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, Thompson
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,
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."
The following visits were undertaken in Ilford during 1961:-
Number of visits to new patients 11
Number of revisits to patients 187
Number of other visits (to Chest Clinics, etc.) 61