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to have developed tuberculosis. In 1955 there was an extension of
this scheme by the London County Council to include school leavers
and the Chest Physician does assist in certain small ways with this
work.
Occupational therapy classes have been continued for outpatients
attending the Clinic. In 1955 a new scheme was started to
provide for patients being treated in their homes. Miss M. Moncur
came to start this scheme which is working most successfully and
much to the benefit of patients.
The Clinic is fortunate in having an active Care Committee with
voluntary funds, raised largely by the sale of Christmas Seals and
donations, at its disposal. These funds are dispersed by the Committee
for the benefit of patients. It is possible in this way either to
supplement official sources of help, or to provide assistance where no
statutory aid is available. The Committee has provided holidays
for needy patients and their families, bought food, clothing and
furnishing in necessitous cases, and also helped with a wide variety
of patients' financial problems. A summer outing to the seaside
was arranged for patients and numerous fares for relatives to visit
patients in distant Sanatoria have been provided. Patients on
resettlement and retraining courses often require assistance over
and above that given by the Ministry of Labour and here the Care
Committee helps again
The Tuberculosis Care Organiser besides acting as Secretary
to the Care Committee, deals with all the routine investigation of
patients' social, domestic and financial affairs and where necessary
arranges for the appropriate National Health Insurance and National
Assistance grants. Apart from these duties, there are innumerable
problems about which patients consult her and where her advice
and encouragement to the patient is invaluable.
Non-tuberculous Chest Diseases
The Chest Clinic has for 10 years dealt with non-tuberculous
chest diseases.
Bronchitis is a very great problem in this country. There are
about 36,000 deaths per year from bronchitis compared with under
8,000 from tuberculosis. It has been estimated that nearly 27
million working days are lost annually in this country on account
of bronchitis. There is undoubtedly a connection between atmospheric
pollution and cigarette smoking and bronchitis, and in a
district such as Greenwich with its heavy air pollution the incidence
of bronchitis is much higher than in a non-industrial area.