[Report 1953] / Medical Officer of Health, Derby County Borough.

  • Derby (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1953
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1953] / Medical Officer of Health, Derby County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    111/160 (page 109)
    Committee, from whose officers the Almoners have received willing collaboration. In the v'olnntary field considerable assistance, both financial, material and in the form of services has been obtained and acknowledgments to the \aiions bodies concerned is made at the conclusion of this re[)ort. Housing. WhiLst the provision of twenty-five houses per year for tuberculous cases is at present adetpiate for the smaller families, attention must be drawn to the fact that large fcimilies are not being rehoused with sufficient speed. Indeed, there are cases for whom repeated recommendations have been made to no avail. The reason given that there are no four-bedrooined houses available cannot be accepted as adequate. Obviously, families requiring four- bedroomed houses, but at present living in houses possessing only two bedrooms, will have their conditions improved if they are rehoused in modern three-bedroomed dwellings. This criticism is not made lightly or without some realisation of the difficulties confronting the Housing Authority, as no doubt other Authorities are faced with a similar problem. It is a fact, however, that the members of these families are subject to a constant weighted risk, they are, therefore, a risk to the community and there is evidence that this lisk has become an accomplished fact in more than one instance. In all other respects the housing of cases recommended by the Chest Physician and the Medical Officer of Health has been satisfactory. There have been isolated cases of patients misusing their new homes, but it is remarkable how few these have been in number. Resettlement. From the early days of diagnosis, the future employment of patients is a matter of concern. Whilst it may only be jiossible for the Chest Physician to give an estimate of the degree of recovery, it is frequently possible for him to advise that a change of employment will be necessary. Without alarming the jiatient or causing despondency, it is possible to so discuss the question that in due course he comes to see the necessity for such a change. The lengthy period of treatment, so often a handicap in other respects, is in this instance an as.set enabling the patient, as it does, to think calmly over his future. No hurried decisions are made and as treatment progresses and a clearer and more dehnite forecast is arrived at, various possibilities arc examined. It is not the duty of a social worker to prevent a patient from carrying out any jdans he may make-but it is a duty, w ith the guidance of the Chest Physician—to so advise him that he becomes aware of his capabilities and inabilities, that he is made aware of the advantages of a certain course and the pitfalls of an alternative course of action. It is satisfactory to report that the overwhelming majority of patients are only too willing to