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153
and sustained interest so essential to the work of the Committee, and
it was decided to discontinue the Sub-Committee and to call the
full Committee monthly to deal with all matters in detail. This
practice has operated since March, 1938.
The Committee have continued their consideration of and
report to the Public Health Committee upon patients recommended
for the supply of dentures, for grants of bedding to enable separate
sleeping accommodation, and the supply of extra nourishment ; as
to the latter grants, the extension of this service to children attending
the L.C.C. Open-Air School at Holly Court whilst at home during
school holidays has been continued.
The Committee's Voluntary Fund has proved of great assistance
during the year. It is reasonably certain that in several cases a
desire to return home before the completion of treatment has been
allayed by grants which have enabled reasonably frequent visiting
by relatives, and also by weekly grants to destitute patients themselves
for the purchase of small personal requirements.
In one case a patient, who in addition to suffering from tuberculosis
was further adversely affected by disturbed domestic conditions,
was unable to afford the cost of a journey to Scotland to stay
with relatives. The travelling expenses of the patient were paid
by the Committee, and the Tuberculosis Officer arranged for the
continued medical supervision and treatment of this patient whilst
away from home.
The family of another patient secured housing accommodation
on one of the outlying estates of the London County Council;
although able to pay their way otherwise, this family could not afford
the cost of removal and the key money; a grant was made to cover
these expenses.
Other patients helped involved cost of repairs to patients' boots,
of a patient's journey to hospital for the repair of spinal jacket, of
frequent visits of parents to a child lying dangerously ill in hospital,
of a holiday for a young girl in poor health and a close contact with
a tuberculous father, of the cost of a motor driving licence, of the
cost of spectacles, of rent in the case of two daughters of a tuberculous
father in hospital and who were not able to meet their rent owing to
non-receipt of wages at public holidays, and many similar cases; in
the case of the last-mentioned the cost of a combined holiday for