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(8) Mother-in-law of patient called to say that the patient was very
ill, but that her husband would not agree to let her be admitted to
hospital, and we were requested to see if we could do anything in the
matter. An immediate visit was paid, but without results to begin
with; but eventually admission to hospital was arranged, and arrangements
made for only child to stay with friends.
799 cases have been before the Committee on the agendas, and
reported on; cases in which the Committee has been asked to forward
a recommendation to the London County Council as to the amount the
patient should be asked to contribute towards the cost of treatment,
have been carefully considered, and in recommending the amount a
unanimous effort is always made to avoid causing hardship.
A sad feature on the Agendas is the report of deaths.
This year particularly we seem to have lost many old friends, not
old, alas, in point of years. Many of them promising young lives.
Among them a gifted artist whose talent was discovered accidentally
during treatment in sanatorium, who, through the Committee, had a
period of training in an art school on his return home. At the
expiration of a year's course, work in a studio was found for him.
Unfortunately his health gave way again, and after a further period of
treatment and many weary months in bed at home he passed away at
the age of 25 years.
We would not have readers feel that this big effort on the part of
the Committee and the patient was fruitless, he had at least a period
of very real happiness and fulfilment, and has left behind some
beautiful little specimens of the work he loved so much.
The London County Council's boarding-out scheme has been as
useful as ever to us during the past year. No reasonable application
for the removal of a child or children from a home where a patient is
dying has been refused. There is little delay in getting them away,
and their return is as unhurried as their departure is speedy. Twelve
children were accepted by the Council this year ; in three cases parents
withdrew their consent after acceptance, leaving nine children placed.
It is with regret that we have to report the loss of one of our
members by death. Miss Williamson will be greatly missed; she was
a most consistently regular attendant at our meetings and was keenly
interested in the work.