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ised, formed of representatives from the local authorities,
boards of guardians, insurance committees and
from all charitable and social organisations in the
district, so that all available agencies can be linked
up and any extra assistance, such as additional 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, may be more readily secured.
In consequence of the difficulty experienced in establishing
a permanent Committee, owing to the war, an
Interim Care Committee was set up by the London
County Council, composed of representatives of all
agencies whose work brings them in contact with
tuberculous patients. The Interim Committee meets,
as a rule, weekly, and has, in the opinion of the Tuberculosis
Officer, been of great value in supplementing
the medical work of the Dispensary and in preventing
the overlapping resulting from several independent
bodies dealing with the same problem.
When considering the cases, reports on their medical
aspect and on the home conditions and social circumstances
are submitted to the Committee to enable
them to deal effectively with them and decide, when
institutional treatment is recommended, whether the
patient shall be referred for this purpose to the London
County Council, the Poor Law Guardians or a voluntary
association.
During last year, in addition to those dealt with
by official bodies, 47 patients were referred to the
Charity Organization Society, of whom ten were sent
to Convalescent Homes, four were boarded out in the
country, nine were assisted financially or with extra
nourishment, clothing or bedding, and in 10 cases
arrangements were made for the care of the children
while the mother or father was in a Sanatorium. 43
children were referred to the Invalid Children's Aid
Association, of whom 35 were sent to Convalescent
Homes, or boarded out in the country, and in three
cases physical exercises were arranged for.