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26
The Borough Tuberculosis Care Committee.
On December 31st, 1928, the constitution of the Tuberculosis Care Committee was as
follows:—
Representing.
Paddington Borough Council Councillor Mrs. R. M. Drury (Vice-Chairman).
,, ,,Councillor Miss G. L. Kemp-Welch, J.P.
,, ,, Dr. G. E. Oates, Medical Officer of Health.
,, „ Miss F. M. Nicolas, Sanitary Inspector.
,, ,, Miss L. M. O'Kell, Sanitary Inspector.
British Red Cross Society Miss A. V. Edden.
Charity Organisation Society Mrs. G. S. Warren.
,, ,, Miss P. Bethell.
Insurance Committee Miss R. Russen.
Invalid Children's Aid Association Miss E. M. Barber.
London County Council Dr. A. W. Sikes (Divisional Medical Officer).
,, ,, Miss D. Whitmore (District Organiser of School
Care Committees).
Paddington Tuberculosis Dispensary Dr. R. S. Walker (Tuberculosis Officer).
,, ,, ,, Nurse C. Griffin.
,, ,, ,, Nurse A. B. Munro.
„ ,, ,, Miss D. B. Trayler.
Paddington and St. Marylebone War Pensions Committee Mr. S. G. Last, J.P. (Chairman).
Kensal House School Care Committee „ „ „
,, „ „ Miss F. Alston.
Paddington and St. Marylebone District Nursing Association Miss Bennett.
Paddington Board of Guardians Miss H. C. Davidson,
Panel Committee Dr. J. J. Gibb.
St. Mary's Hospital Dr. A. B. Porteous (Tuberculosis Officer).
„ „ Sister M. M. Lee.
,, ,, Miss E. Wilson (Lady Almoner).
United Services Fund Miss M. M. Barthorp.
Local Social Worker The Hon. Miss E. C. Godley.
Paddington and St. Marylebone Employment Committee Mr. A. E. Goss.
The Medical Officer of Health continued to act as Honorary Secretary to the Committee,
an allowance of £50 per annum being allocated to certain members of the clerical staff for
clerical assistance.
The social work of the Tuberculosis Care Committee is ancillary to the work of the Public
Health Committees of the Borough Council and London County Council in the sphere of the
prevention and treatment of tuberculosis. The principal duties performed are:
(1) The assessment of patients' contributions, who are receiving institutional treatment
at the hands of the London County Council.
(2) The co-ordination of the various agencies which can be invoked to assist patients and
their dependants.
No funds are available in the hands of the Committee for the assistance of patients.
The Committee met 22 times during the year at the Town Hall, and the attendance of
members has been well maintained. 308 individual cases were considered.
During the year the Committee were instrumental in a number of cases in procuring
through local charities financial or other assistance for patients and their dependants. The
following may be regarded as typical examples of the help so rendered:—
On the admission of a patient to sanatorium, his wife was left with the insurance benefit as the sole source
of income for the support of herself and two children. The Charity Organisation Society were appealed to
for help, and made a weekly grant to the family, which was continued until the patient returned home and
resumed his former occupation.
A woman, deserted by her husband, obtained a situation in domestic service. Nine months later she
became ill with pulmonary tuberculosis, and was admitted to sanatorium. She was badly in need of clothing,
which, owing to lack of means, she was unable to purchase. Application was made to the Charity Organisation
Society, who readily supplied all the garments that were necessary.
The widow of a patient was unable to continue the employment she had obtained before her husband's
death, owing to the poor state of her health. A voluntary society, on being appealed to, arranged to send
her to a convalescent home, whence she returned fit to take up the task of supplementing, by her earnings,
the widow's pension she was receiving for herself and her two children.
A domestic servant, some years before being taken ill with tuberculosis, had lost touch with her Approved
Society, and consequently was unable to claim sickness benefit. She had, however, in her possession a certain
number of stamped insurance cards. Enquiries made on her behalf resulted in the discovery that the Society
to which she had belonged had ceased to exist, and that its engagements had been transferred to another
Society. The facts were communicated to the Ministry of Health, and eventually information was received
to the effect that the patient's position in insurance had been regularised, and that she would be entitled to
benefit.