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Dispensary Statistics.
On pages 125 to 131 will be found Form T. 145, which contains
the returns required by the Ministry of Health of the work of the
Dispensary during the year 1935, and Form T. 145a, which shows
in a summarised form the condition of all patients whose case
records were in possession of the Dispensary at the end of 1935,
arranged according to the years (from 1921 to 1935) in which
the patients first came under public medical treatment for pulmonary
and non-pulmonary tuberculosis.
The Tuberculosis Care Committee.
This Committee, the constitution of which is set out on page 2,
met fortnightly throughout the year at the Dispensary.
The following is a summary of the work carried out by the
Committee during 1935:—
Battersea Borough Council—extra nourishment, 193;
dentures, 10; Borough charities, 1 204
Public Assistance Committee—financial assistance, 17;
clothing, 15; dentures, 2; beds and bedding, 4;
other assistance, 2 40
Charity Organisation Society—financial assistance, 1;
clothing 5; boarding out of children, 2 ; other
assistance, 3 11
United Services Fund and British Legion—financial
assistance, 5; clothing, 2 ; bedding, 2 9
Other Agencies—financial assistance, 7; dentures, 3;
clothing, 2; other assistance, 4 16
Training and Employment—Suitable agencies, 1;
Council, 1 2
The following are some illustrations of the work done by the
Care Committee throughout the year:—
M.H., aged 27. This patient was sent away for institutional treatment,
and her husband was anxious to obtain better accommodation
for her when she returned. The family, consisting of husband, wife and
a boy aged 14, were living and sleeping in one furnished room. They
had no furniture of their own and could not obtain the things they required
on hire purchase terms as the man had no security to offer, and his wages
were very small.
The Committee referred the case to the Charity Organisation Society
who assisted the man to obtain the furniture he needed and he was then
able to secure suitable accommodation.
T.S., aged 25. Sent away for a long period of institutional treatment
and mother could not afford to visit him.
The Committee paid her fares and expenses on several occasions,
and later, when notice was received of the patient's discharge, obtained
a separate bed and bedding, &c., and arranged for the loan of a shelter
so that patient could sleep alone in the garden. They were also able to
obtain a grant for extra nourishment and financial assistance until the
patient was fit to return to work.
L.G., aged 24. Died of Tuberculosis, and widow was in financial
stress as the insurance company had refused to pay the insurance
benefit.