Annual report of the Committee of Management to the Governors : 1946 / Birkenhead General Hospital.

  • Birkenhead General Hospital
Date:
1946
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Committee of Management to the Governors : 1946 / Birkenhead General Hospital. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/76 page 14
    Almoner’s Department. It is pleasing to note that during the past year the work of this Department began to resume its pre-war character, in so far that both statutory and voluntary social agencies were able to assist more generally and more thoroughly with the normal after-care work of the patients, having hitherto concentrated on the acute and immediate war-time problems following the bombing raids and the subsequent distress caused. 138 patients were sent to Convalescent Homes during the year, assistance towards maintenance and fares coming from various local Societies, Contributory Schemes, employees and our own “ John Laird Fund.” Similarly, 324 appliances were provided for both in-patients and out-patients, with help from the same source. Regarding the provision of Surgical Appliances, it is certain that if left to the patients, there would only be a small percentage who could obtain them by their own efforts. It is gratifying to note in our experiment in the resettlement of certain disabled patients, that with the assistance of kindly and co-operative employers, nearly all patients referred to us for help in this direction were placed in suitable employment. Our thanks are due to the Invalid Children’s Association, Centre of Social Service, Personal Service Society and the Merseyside Hospitals Council for reports on home conditions, and for visiting patients in their homes, also to the Poor Man’s Lawyers in various districts who were always ready to help the less fortunate patients with legal problems. Mention should also be made of the help rendered by the Hospital Car Service, and for the courtesy and general assistance of the drivers individually. The Department has been particularly successful in obtaining financial and other aid for patients who are victims of over¬ crowding and other bad social conditions, and the help given by the National Society for Cancer Relief has, in no small measure, been the means of bringing comfort to many deserving cases. Our Almoner is much concerned on account of the “ lonely aged.” Here is indeed a problem requiring urgent attention. It is not uncommon to discover people over 75 years of age living completely alone and doing everything for themselves, with the result that they are not properly cared for. The outlook seems very gloomy for them and the conditions under which they exist are often appalling. We feel that the Department is doing its share in the alleviation of the sick and suffering living within the wide area under our influence, and sympathy and time to listen to “ the patients side ” is being well rewarded.
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