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of those who subscribe to the Christmas Seal Sale Fund and to
the support and advice of the many public bodies in the Borough.
The work of the Committee makes a valuable contribution to
the local health services and the assistance given to patients
makes recovery so much easier. No official body, however
sympathetic, can give help as quickly as can the Care Committee
and this means that patients are relieved of at least some of
their worries and are able (as is set out in the Committee's terms
of reference) to derive the fullest possible advantage from the
medical treatment.
The following list shows the type of aid given and the
number of patients assisted from the Committee's funds since
the last Annual Report:
Clothing 55
Pocket money while in hospital 30
Pyjamas for those confined to bed or on admission to
hospital 23
Supply of towels 10
Loan of dressing gowns 10
Wireless (repairs and licences) 4
Taxi fares 7
Household removals and help with furnishings 9
Loan of bedside comforts 21
Loan of beds 12
Supply of sheets, blankets and other bedding 16
Fares of relatives to distant sanatoria 30
Settlement of hire purchase arrears, payment of electricity
and other outstanding accounts 6
Escort expenses 2
Lodgings and meals 16
In the matter of financial assistance and other helpful
guidance the National Assistance Board have been extremely
co-operative and the patients have benefited accordingly.
Following investigation by the Secretary into the circumstances
of new patients reference was made to the Board in 125 cases.
Most of these received assistance in one way or another.
Assistance was also given by the Board to 158 old patients in
need, making a total of 283 cases.
The number of cases investigated by the Secretary during
the year was 1,632.
The gathering of information regarding the needs of patients
requires much team work among the medical and social workers,
i.e. Medical staff, Health Visitors, Almoners of Hospitals, and
other public and voluntary organisations. Special mention
must be made of the Chest Physicians of the Chest Clinic and the
Doctors under whose care the patients may be. Their help—