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institutions to which Finsbury patients are sent under the
County Council's Scheme. The suggestion of regular remittances
in needy cases was generally welcomed; the position of the patient
who is not himself able to buy a newspaper even occasionally,
or such necessities as postage stamps or razor blades and so on,
may be easily imagined; even a very small sum may mean a more
or less contented stay under treatment, the lack of it may lead to
early self discharge agaimst medical advice.
The Committee much desired to give greater assistance, but
the funds at their disposal enabled a normal grant of only 1s. 6d.
per week, which, nevertheless, in the opinion of the majority of
the medical superintendents consulted, met the pressing need.
The following notes illustrate types of the many cases which
the Committee has dealt with:—
(a) N.—A man whose record showed continuous residence in
common lodging-houses. He was destitute and apparently
without friends. A grant of pocket money averted early
self discharge from hospital.
(J) C.—A lad transferred to a treatment-training institution,
was provided with a complete outfit of clothing suitable for
his new occupation.
(c) B.—A perambulating street trader without insurance benefit
or other financial resources. He was given pocket money
whilst in hospital. After his death relatives in Ireland
undertook the care of one of his two small children. The
necessary fares were paid out of the Voluntary Fund.
(d) C.—An ex-service man badly in need of clothing which he
could not afford to buy. The Committee represented his
case to the British Legion, which provided him with
a complete set of underclothing and redeemed his outer
clothing from pawn.
(e)B.—An itinerant mat repairer, who was not qualified for
National Health or other benefit, entirely without financial
resources, was supplied with pocket money whilst in
a sanatorium, and also clothing.
The Committee continued the preliminary examination of
recommendations made by the Tuberculosis Officer for grants of
extra nourishment and dentures.