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27
The Borough Tuberculosis Care Committee.
The constitution of the Tuberculosis Care Committee for the year 1931 was as
follows:-
Representing.
Paddington Borough Council Councillor W. H. Crook (Chairman, Public Health
Committee).
,, ,, Councillor Mrs. R. M. Drury (Vice-Chairman).
„ „ Councillor Mrs. A. E. Lambert.
„ „ Dr. G. E. Oates, Medical Officer of Health.
„ „ Miss L. M. O'Kell, Sanitary Inspector.
„ „ Miss I. L. Buckledee, Sanitary Inspector.
British Red Cross Society Miss A. V. Edden.
Charity Organisation Society Mrs. G. S. Warren.
,, „ Miss P. Bethell.
Insurance Committee Miss N. Clive.
Invalid Children's Aid Association Miss L. C. Streatfeild
London County Council Dr. A. W. Sikes (Divisional Medical Officer).
„ „ Miss K. Marriott (District Organiser of School
Care Committees).
Paddington Tuberculosis Dispensary Dr. R. S. Walker (Tuberculosis Officer).
„ „ ,, Nurse C. Griffin.
„ „ „ Nurse A. B. Munro.
,, „ „ Miss C. Milner.
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.
Public Assistance Committee Area VI Miss H. C. Davidson,
Panel Committee Dr. S. Crown.
St. Mary's Hospital Dr. A. B. Porteous (Tuberculosis Officer).
„ „ Sister M. M. Lee.
Red Cross Emergency Fund Miss M. M. Barthorp.
British Legion and United Services Fund Benevolent
Committee Mr. J. E. Bennison.
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 on 22 occasions during the year, and the attendance of members
was well maintained. Two hundred and ninety-one individual cases were considered.
Residential treatment was granted by the London County Council to 159 patients, 19
of whom were children under the age of 16 years. In each instance the financial circumstances
of the patient were carefully considered by the Care Committee, and a
recommendation was forwarded to the County Council as to whether free treatment should
be granted or a contribution assessed. Of the 159 patients, 120 received free treatment,
the remaining 39 patients, or their parents, paying contributions varying from 2s. 6d. to 25s. a
week. Payments are collected by the Committee and transmitted monthly to the County
Council. During the year a total of £217 3s. 6d. was dealt with in this manner.
It not infrequently happens that after a case has been assessed, a revision of the rate
of contribution is rendered necessary owing to a change in the circumstances of the family.
During 1931, 9 assessments were revised by the County Council for this reason, following
recommendations made by the Care Committee.
Typical examples of the help rendered by the Committee in connection with the social
welfare part of their work have appeared in previous Annual Reports. During 1931, the
Committee were able to arrange for assistance in the form of clothing, extra nourishment
or monetary grants to be given to a number of patients, or their dependants, by various
charitable organisations, including the Charity Organisation Society, the British Red Cross
Emergency Fund, the British Legion and United Services Benevolent Fund and the Royal
Naval Benevolent Trust. Several patients were helped to find suitable employment, and
action was taken on behalf of others with a view to obtaining settlement of difficulties connected
with the payment of insurance benefit.