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1933] 40
Report for the year 1933.
The year 1933 has shown an increase in the amount of work to be undertaken
by the Committee. This is partly due to the change in administration which took
place on April 1st, when the assessment of General Hospital Cases became the work
of Tuberculosis Care Committees.
More patients, accordingly, have come under the purview of the Committee.
This means more families also, for since the aim of the work is primarily preventative,
the care is not only for the patient, but very largely for the family.
This is a formidable work in such a large area as Islington, but a few examples
of care work undertaken throughout the year may go to prove that it is worth
while.
A. was a young girl with tubercular disease of both kidneys. Her father had
deserted years ago and her mother went out to work to support herself and the
girl. By this means she was able to provide the necessities of life, but the girl
needed 2 pints of milk daily and extra nourishing food. The help of the Charity
Organisation Society was solicited and the extras needed were provided.
B. was a married man who had to go away for Sanatorium treatment leaving
a wife and three young children. She had the children cared for by a neighbour
and went out to work. Soon, however, her husband needed warm pyjamas which
she could not afford to buy. These were supplied out of the Committee's clothing
cupboard.
C. was also a man with young children. Whilst he was away, the firm from
which he had bought furniture on the instalment plan threatened to reclaim this
unless payments were kept up to date (there were previous arrears on account of
illness). When the firm heard how the family stood they agreed to accept a very
small payment weekly until the husband could return to work.
D. was worried whilst she was receiving treatment because her husband, from
whom she had been separated for some years, had reduced her allowance and she
felt he could afford more. By getting into touch with the Women and Children's
Protection Society it was able to be proved to the patient that an order for the
reduced amount had been made in Court whilst she was ill, and that her husband
could not afford more.
Efforts have been made to provide that conditions at home are satisfactory for
the patient on discharge from Sanatorium. For example:—
E. was a young girl in Sanatorium whose mother died of tuberculosis whilst
she was still away. An aunt was very willing to give the girl a good home but had
not the accommodation, although she had her name down for a house on one of the
new estates. By getting into touch with the Housing authorities she was able to
be given preferential treatment so that the girl will have a suitable home to which
to be discharged.
F. was discharged from Sanatorium fit only for light work. He was found to
have insufficient to live on and to be sleeping in the same bed as his wife. The
circumstances were explained to the Public Assistance Committee who granted
Out-Relief, and a bed was obtained by a grant from Regimental funds.
The weekly Handicraft Class for patients who are not fit for work continues
to be held, and, as one patient put it, "it does keep my mind off things." The
library also still provides patients with books instead of their getting them from
public libraries which in some cases is perhaps not to be recommended.