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Allowances for Tuberculous Persons undergoing Treatment.
In June,1943, the Government's scheme to give
maintenance allowances to tuberculous persons undergoing
treatment was introduced.
The allowances are payable to patients for their
own maintenance and that of their dependants whilst the patients
are waiting to go away for treatment, whilst undergoing treatment
and after discharge if, in the opinion of the Tuberculosis
Officer, they are not fit to return to work. The Tuberculosis
Officer has the power to continue the allowance for two periods
of six months after discharge from a sanatorium. In exceptional
oases the allowance may be continued for a further
period at the discretion of the Minister of Health, to
whom the case must be referred by the Tuberculosis Officer.
In addition, the income of persons able to do part-time
work only may be supplemented through the scheme.
Some patients undergoing treatment in institutions,
although having no dependants, have no income of any
sort. In these cases pocket money is allowed under the
scheme, and is paid to them by the steward of the institution.
In the London area the County Council are
responsible for assessing the allowances. The machinery of
the Borough Council's tuberculosis dispensary is, however,
used for making enquiries in regard to allowances, and the
actual payments are made at the dispensary.
Application forms for allowances are issued
from the dispensary, and the dispensary staff give any
necessary help to the applicants.
The L. C. C.Assessment Officer attends the
dispensary once a week to assess all new cases, and to
review the old ones when any change in financial
circumstances has occurred.
Details of payments to be made are sent in advance
to the Borough Treasurer and a member of his staff attends
the dispensary weekly to make the necessary payments to
persons authorised by the patients to receive them. The
payments are made weekly in advance,

The amount disbursed during the year was
£2,952. l1s. 3d.
I am,
Mr.Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors,
Your obedient Servant,
JAMES FENTON.
Medical Officer of Health.