London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Paddington 1933

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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29
Representing.
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 A.M. 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 E.M. Phillips.
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 23 occasions during the year, and the attendance of members was well
maintained. Three hundred and twenty-three individual cases were considered.
Residential treatment was granted by the London County Council to 201 patients, 20 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 201 patients,
163 received free treatment, the remaining 38 patients, or their parents, paying contributions varying
from 2s. 6d. to 50s. a week. Payments are collected by the Committee and transmitted monthly to
the County Council. During the year a total of £195 19s. 9d. 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 1933 a number
of assessments were revised by the County Council for this reason, following recommendations made
by the Care Committee.
In the course of the year the Committee were successful in obtaining from charitable organisations
help of various kinds for necessitous patients or their dependants.
In consequence of administrative changes made by the London County Council between the
Central Public Health and Public Assistance Committees, the Tuberculosis Care Committee, since
the 1st April, 1933, have been entrusted with the assessment of cases receiving treatment under the
Tuberculosis Scheme in the County Council's general hospitals, as well as of those receiving residential
treatment elsewhere. The effect of the new arrangement is that the Care Committee are now brought
into direct contact with, and are able to give attention to the welfare of, all tuberculous patients
receiving residential treatment provided by the County Council, a distinct advantage compared with
the former arrangement under which the assessment of cases at different stages of treatment, and even
of two patients in the same family, often fell to separate Committees.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The staff engaged in maternity and child welfare work consists of a Superintendent Health Visitor,
8 whole-time Health Visitors, 1 part-time Health Visitor, 9 part-time Medical Officers, 3 part-time
Masseuses, and 1 part-time Clerical Assistant. During the year the staff was strengthened by the
appointment of the Superintendent Health Visitor and an additional Masseuse.