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The duties of the Committee were defined to include enquiries as to the
economic position of the family of a patient suffering from tuberculosis as soon as
the patient comes within the purview of the Tuberculosis Dispensary Scheme
with a view to rendering such advice and assistance as the circumstances of the
case dictate; assistance in the provision, where necessary, of clothing as required
by the institution to which the patient is sent, and any arrangements for the
family to be properly looked after during the absence of father or mother; the
securing of auxiliaries for domiciliary treatment which cannot be provided without
charitable assistance; recommendations to the London County Council as to the
amount of payment, if any, to be made towards institutional treatment and the
collection of agreed amounts; advising the Borough Council whether the patients
recommended for extra nourishment are in a position to pay for the same and, if
not, the extent to which assistance should be given; advising the Borough
Council as to the contributions, if any, to be made by patients in respect to the
provision of dentures under any arrangement made by the Council for dental
treatment.
The Annual Report of the Committee is as follows:—
The Committee has met 11 times during the year. The average attendance
of members at each meeting has been 8.45.
Fifty-two cases have been considered—27 new, and 25 old cases.
Thirty-six cases—29 adults, and 7 children—were referred by the London
County Council for assessment. Of these, 10 were granted free treatment, and 23
were assessed to pay contributions, varying from Is. to 15s. per week towards the
cost of treatment and maintenance; two refused treatment before an assessment
was considered, and one made his own arrangements for treatment.
Contributions towards the cost of treatment and maintenance amounting to
£114. 0s. 6d. were collected on behalf of the London County Council in 26 cases—
16 adults and 10 children. Nine of these were still under treatment at the close of
the year. Two cases had to be referred back to the London County Council for
refusal to pay any contributions—one being that of a man in regular employment
with no dependent children whose wife was sent away for treatment.
Six quarterly reports on five children were received from the London County
Council and the information contained therein conveyed to the parents.
One case was transferred to the Care Committee of another Borough.
Three children were sent away through the Contact Scheme of the London
County Council. Two others were recommended but their parents failed to let
them go.
One child was sent away for convalescence through the Invalid Children's Aid
Association. One ex-Service man had convalescence at the United Services Fund's
Home at Bournemouth and the United Services Fund gave assistance towards
convalescence in the case of an ex-Service man's wife and baby. Convalescence
through Stafford's Charity was arranged for a mother while her child was away for
treatment but she removed the child from treatment and failed to take advantage
of convalescence for herself. A " Free Bed " was obtained at St. Michael's Home,
Axbridge, for three months for one patient. A letter for a Convalescent Home
was obtained in another case.