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Clerical Department. A large number of letters and reports concerning
Dispensary and Care Committee cases were dealt with by Miss Sargent and
Miss Wright. The total number of letters written during the year was 5,539,
and there were in addition 544 reports sent to Public Bodies, or Associations, and
795 reports sent to doctors. In addition the registers are kept and statistical
reports prepared for the London County Council and Ministry of Health in
this department.
Tuberculosis Care Committee. This representative Committee has a
meeting every second week at the Dispensary (except during holiday periods)
to consider matters of assessment and conditions of every description, affecting
Dispensary (and other) patients, and their families. During 1934 the
London County Council decided to give free treatment for Sanatorium patients,
and thus a considerable amount of work concerned with financial assessments
was discontinued. The Committee is composed of representatives from the
Public Assistance Department, the Employment Exchange, various voluntary
organizations (Invalid Children's Aid Association, Charity Organization
Society, etc.), The London County Council and the Fulham Borough Council.*
The Tuberculosis Officer acts as Medical adviser to the Committee, and Miss
Sargent as Secretary. One of the duties of the Tuberculosis Care Committee
is to arrange and provide for extra nourishment to be granted in necessitous
cases on the recommendation of the Tuberculosis Officer. Extra nourishment
takes the form of new-laid eggs, fresh butter, and fresh milk and is usually
given before and on return of patients from Sanatoria, in cases where the
income may be thought to be insufficient for the provision of extras. In 1934,
71 persons were granted extra nourishment for varying periods; but under
the regulations, unless the circumstances are very exceptional and specially
reviewed, extra nourishment is limited to a period of 3 consecutive months
at a time.
As illustrative of the work of the Care Committee, Miss Sargent has
very kindly supplied a brief resume of certain cases dealt with:—
A. Was a family consisting of father and mother, both advanced cases
of pulmonary tuberculosis, and one child aged 10 years. They lived
at the top of the house and as the woman also suffered from heart
trouble, the child was necessary to them to run errands and generally
to fetch and carry. Home conditions were, however, very bad and
it seemed imperative that the boy should be removed to more healthy
surroundings. After a great deal of persuasion, the parents gave
their consent on condition that he was not referred to Public Assistance.
The woman was a country woman, with a horror of the Poor
Law.
Arrangements were made to board out the boy under the Contact
Scheme but, as he was found to be suffering from ringworm,
he was sent to the Goldie Leigh School instead.
The Fulham Borough Council at the time of writing has been re constituted and certain of
the old representations are not now made.