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45
INTERIM TUBERCULOSIS CARE COMMITTEE.
With respect to this subject, on July 11th, 1919, I reported as
follows:—
"The Local Government Board in a circular letter to Local
Authorities, dated 29th April, 1915, indicated amongst other
matters, the desirability of supplementing the work of tuberculosis
dispensaries by the formation of Care Committees to keep in touch
with patients who were under treatment at dispensaries, or who
had undergone or might require, sanatorium treatment; the Committees
were in fact to look after the general welfare and interests
of patients, and to see that they did not suffer from lack of
sufficient "food, change of air, clothing, better home conditions,
more suitable occupation, etc., that may be needed to enable
patients to benefit to the fullest extent from the treatment provided,"
and the Board urged that such Committees should be
appointed. They pointed out that the work of such Committees
should relate to the "whole community," not merely to insured
patients, and proposed that the Committees should be formed of
representatives from "Local Authorities, Boards of Guardians,
Insurance Committees, and from all charitable and social work
organisations in the district." Also, "Medical Officers of Health,
and Tuberculosis Officers should be ex-officio members of the
Committees, and School Medical Officers should also be included."
"Schemes for the organising of Care Committees were to be
submitted for the approval of the Board before final adoption,
and the expenses were expected to be met mainly by voluntary
contrib`
utions, but the Council was empowered to provide from
its funds expenses incurred in providing "secretarial and clerical
assistance and office facilities (including stationery and postage),
and to charge such expenses to the tuberculosis account."
"Subsequently the London County Council took the matter up,
and in June, 1915, published a scheme as a basis on which the
Metropolitan Boroughs would form their Care Committees, which