Report for the year 1945 : [80th annual report] / Maida Vale Hospital for Nervous Diseases.

  • Maida Vale Hospital for Nervous Diseases.
Date:
[1946?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report for the year 1945 : [80th annual report] / Maida Vale Hospital for Nervous Diseases. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ALMONER’S DEPARTMENT During the past year the key-note in this Department has been Case-work, and it would therefore seem an appropriate opportunity to enlarge on this aspect of an Almoner’s work. With the end of the war and the problems of resettlement coming into the foreground, case-work is needed more than ever to ensure that all the effort and money expended proves of real value to the individuals for whom it is intended. It is only necessary to look at the Annual Charities Register, a book of approximately 460 pages, to see the very large number of reliable organisations which exist to help those of varying types and of varying needs. Together with the many Statutory bodies also available, it is small wonder that the individual is bewildered and often struggles on un-aided, rather than try to decide to which he should apply for assistance and advice. Alternative¬ ly, the more bold does a round with no very fixed plan in mind other than “ getting some monetary help to go on with.” It is obvious that if really constructive work of any sort is to be carried out, planning is essential and not only planning but good team work amongst those helping to carry through the plan. When there is some physical or mental disability to consider as well as the social problem, it is even more important, and for this reason Charles Loch, more than fifty years ago, con¬ ceived the idea of the Medico-social worker, or Almoner as she came to be called in England (that is one who DISPENSES aid to the needy). Her main function was, and still is, as a Physician wrote a few years ago, ” helping to discover the background of the patient’s illness, co-operating in treatment, and guiding the patient through rehabilitation back to normal life and work ”. To this end is she trained to enable her to participate as a skilled member of the Hospital team. As a Social worker she is in a position through her training and experience, to advise on what facilities are available and which would seem most suitable for each individual patient. As a case-worker it is for her to obtain and corre¬ late information from the various members of the team, both inside and out¬ side the Hospital, keeping before all, including the patient, the plan originally agreed upon, and making sure that all are aware of any adjustments which may become necessary from time to time. In a recent case, over a period of five years no less than twelve different Hospitals and other organisations were concerned with helping the patient, and without really good team work it is not difficult to imagine how much conflicting advice might be given and with what disastrous results to the patient. H. M. L. SQUIRE, A.I.A., Almoner. DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY I The Occupational Therapy Department can claim to have made a satis¬ factory re-opening on the 12th February. A number of hospitals (including all the nearer teaching ones), have shown more than passing interest in the offer to take their out-patients in the De¬ partment. The leading medical journals have welcomed these facilities and during the year patients have been referred for this treatment from eleven other hospitals and some private physicians. I