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(2) Chest Clinics
Many patients attending chest clinics suffer from severely
disabling and chronic illness or require a prolonged course of treatment.
The needs for social worker support for these cases is sufficient
to justify the attachment of a full-time medical social worker to
the chest clinic at St.Helier Hospital who attends seven clinic sessions
weekly and devotes three half-days to visiting. The Disablement
Resettlement Officer from the Ministry of Labour visits weekly to
discuss problems of rehabilitation, special training and employment.
The medical social worker receives referrals of new cases
from the chest clinics and from the chest wards on their discharge
from hospital. Many of these patients are suffering from carcinoma
of the bronchus, chronic bronchitis and chronic tuberculosis.
The work in connection with these cases consists mainly of
re-habilitation, dealing with housing queries, providing the essential
material needs for recovery and problems connected with the
occupation and care of patients at home. Many of the patients are
anxious and because of the nature of their illness have lost
confidence in their own ability to work and support their families.
Many need practical help to overcome the effects of their disability.
Patients with chronic pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis
may never become fit for a normal life and, including some who have
been attending the chest clinics over periods of 20 years and more,
are able to contact the medical social worker for advice and help.
Some are too ill or too breathless to come to-hospital and these are
visited at home.
For those who cannot make their own arrangements, help is
given in providing holidays, usually for patients and their families.
This is an important feature of the support given to patients suffering
from chronic illnesses and makes a significant contribution to their
well-being.
Free Milk
The Borough Council continues to operate a free milk scheme for those
patients who require extra nourishment for medical reasons which
they are unable to provide themselves. 43 such cases were provided
with free milk orders during 1966.
Care Committees
The voluntary care committees continue to give excellent
service to patients who attend the chest clinics. The committees
receive reports from the medical social worker on those patients who
need financial assistance and help is given by the provision of
essential needs which cannot be met from statutory sources.
Assistance towards the cost of holidays, fuel, transport, insurance
premiums, television licences, clothing and many other aspects of family
life which are unable to be met by the disabled patient is provided.
Although the Borough Council makes an annual grant to the care committees
much of their work depends upon the raising of funds from voluntary
sources.
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