View report page

64
Arrangements for Finding Employment.
The difficulties of a care committee in securing work for persons whose physical capacity is
limited will be readily appreciated, but every effort is made in this matter.
In some instances the intervention of the tuberculosis care committee has resulted in employers
holding open the positions of men about to undergo sanatorium treatment.
Handicrafts Class.
The handicraft class formerly held, but abandoned at the end of 1929 owing to the difficulty
in maintaining satisfactory attendance, has been revived under the auspices of the Central Fund
for the Industrial Welfare of Tuberculous Persons, who invited joint action by the boroughs of
Paddington, St. Marylebone and Kensington.
A class for glove making was started in October, 1931. Meetings are held weekly at the
Paddington tuberculosis dispensary, No. 20, Talbot Road. The class has been continued throughout
1932 and at the end of the year six patients from Kensington were in regular attendance and a
favourable report was received of their work. There are at present no vacancies in the class.
The Kensington borough council disinfects all gloves made by exposing them to formalin
vapour, which has been shown by experiment to be completely effective as a sterilizer without
injuring the texture or colour of the gloves.
The Central Fund is experiencing some difficulty in disposing of the gloves, and asks for the
co-operation of the Kensington tuberculosis care committee and any other persons interested in
this work.
Provision of Shelters at the Homes of Patients.
The council are prepared to loan shelters and they keep several in readiness at their Wood
Lane depot but, at the present time, none is in use.
Provision of Bedding for Home Isolation.
At the present time there are eight patients to whom bedsteads and bedding are being
loaned. In two of these the assistance was given for the first time during the past 12 months, the
articles issued being as follows :—
Bedsteads 2 Mattresses 2
Bolsters 1 Pillows 5
Pillow-slips 9 Sheets 9
Blankets 6 Quilts 2
Mattress covers 2
The total stock of bedding, etc., on loan on 31st December, 1932, was :—
Bedsteads 6 Mattresses 5
Bolsters 2 Pillows 10
Pillow slips 18 Sheets 21
Blankets 19 Quilts 5
Mattress covers 4
Disinfection after Death or Removal to Hospital.
In all cases after death from tuberculosis the council offer disinfection. This offer is also extended
when patients enter hospitals or sanatoria and when they change their residence.
Disinfection is also carried out upon request by the tuberculosis officer or private practitioners.
The following table shows the number of disinfections carried out during the year :—
Cases where bedding, etc., was disinfected by steam 175
Number of rooms disinfected 220
Bacteriological Examinations.
Specimens of sputum submitted by medical practitioners for bacteriological
examination at the expense of the council:—
Examined at the council's laboratory 302
Examined by the tuberculosis officer 502
Sputum Flasks.
These are supplied to patients who are infectious, and advice is given in regard to the disposal
of sputum.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JAMES FENTON,
Medical Officer of Health.