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patient is in an advanced stage of phthisis, then there is usually a
100% chance of a complete cure taking place. In practice this does
mean that in spite of the continued fall in the number of newly
notified cases, the number of patients attending for treatment and
follow up increased, a tendency noted in most parts of the country,
since some of the more chronic cases have to be treated for a number
of years and their follow-up is much more prolonged. Of course, in
the past many would have died within 5 years of notification. The
attendance figures for the year were very much as usual, the routine
tuberculous attendances rising from 2086 in 1959 to 2102 in 1960
AFTER-CARE
After-Care for both tuberculous and non-tuberculous chest patients
continues to be very necessary, more especially now that there is less
long-term hospital treatment. Problems dealt with covered a wide
field. People of stable personality needed mainly practical help
of various kinds to face their illness. On the practical side,
co-operation with the Local Authorities and National Assistance Board
enabled patients to be provided with free extra nourishment,
recuperative holidays, free or at a reduced cost, referral to the Home
Help Service and many other agencies. Close contact was maintained
with the London County Council and Borough Housing Departments, and
when the medical needs were acute the application was occasionally
successful
Housing problems tend, however, to be long drawn out. Following
illness, family, work, and personality problems may arise, which might
have been resolved had the housing been adequate and the patient fit.
Patients with such problems often made heavy and continuing demands for
support from the clinic workers, and rehabilitation to as normal a life
as possible was the aim To help further this aim, a Re-Settlement
Clinic continued to be held once a month, in which the Ministry
of Labour Disablement Re Settlement Officer, the Chest Physician,
the Care Organiser and the patient discussed mutually, the individual
problems of return to working life. Sometimes suitable work was found
quite quickly, sometimes a period at an Industrial Rehabilitation Unit
helped the patient to re establish himself.
Divisional Therapy and twice weekly classes at the Pottery
Workshop also assisted in rehabilitation. The Pottery Workshop held
its first Exhibition in November, 1960, which was very successful.
The Fulham Tuberculosis Care Committee continued to give financial
help to clinic patients to ease difficulties for which the State does
not provide. Help of this kind was given through the Care Organiser
on 72 occasions, including fares, holidays, coal, clothing, wireless
repairs, etc. Special gifts at Christmas were also given to 40
patients.
The Care Organiser was. of course, always available to listen
to patients personal problems, to discuss them and where possible
to help the patient to reach the solution best suited to himself