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65
Holborn Tuberculosis Care Committee.
Report for 1934.
The Committee has met eleven times during the year. The average
attendance of members at each meeting has been. 10.3.
Sixty-two cases have been considered: 33 new (29 adults and four children),
and 29 old cases (28 adults and one child).
Thirty-five cases (31 adults and four children) were referred to the Committee
for assessment. Five of these (all adults) were old cases recommended for further
periods of Institutional Treatment. Twenty-three adults and one child were
recommended for free treatment: eight adults and three children were assessed
to pay amounts varying from 2s. to 50s. per week towards the cost of their treatment
and maintenance. Eight cases were referred for re-assessment, owing to
altered circumstances; in each case a reduction in assessment was recommended.
Contributions, towards the cost of treatment and maintenance, amounting
to £200. 18s. 6d., were collected on 25 cases—19 adults and six children. This
is the highest amount collected in the Borough in any year, with the exception of
1929 when £248. 10s. Od. was collected on 36 cases.
In July, 1934, the London County Council decided that treatment for
tuberculosis should be provided free of cost to patients in their area. The County
Council, however, is still prepared to accept voluntary contributions should the
patients (or those responsible for them) desire to make any. Between the time
of the passing of the Resolution and the end of the year, £13. 2s. 6d. was collected
in voluntary contributions.
The change in the London County Council's policy has considerably altered
the work of the Committee. Prior to the passing of the Resolution that treatment
should be free from contribution, every patient recommended for Institutional
Treatment was referred to the Committee, but this became no longer necessary
when assessments were done away with. In the nature of things, actual care
work must be dealt with at once, as the need becomes known, so, in the majority
of cases, it now falls to the Honorary Secretary merely to report to the Committee
what action has been taken during the past month.
Eleven Progress Reports, on six children, were received from the County
Council, and the information contained therein was conveyed to the relatives.
Convalescence was arranged in six cases—four through Stafford's Charity,
one through the Invalid Children's Aid Association, and one through the United
Services Fund. Three children were admitted to the L.C.C. Open Air School,
Holly Court. Another child was accepted for admission, but the mother refused
to allow him to go.
During the year 833 visits have been paid to patients, and their families, and,
in addition, many miscellaneous calls have been made in connection with the
needs of those families.
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