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" The Tuberculosis Care Committee, consisting of representatives of
Public Authorities and charitable agencies, meets fortnightly at the
Dispensary. During 1927, 22 meetings were held, and 372 cases were
considered.
" 186 recommendations regarding assessment for institutional treatment
were submitted to the London County Council. 20 dental cases
were considered, and 58 "special cases" dealt with.
"The work of the Care Committee mainly consists in consideration of
problems arising out of the social and economic aspect of tuberculosis.
Of great assistance to the Committee during 1927 was the Poplar
Tuberculosis Fund—the voluntary fund for helping persons suffering
from tuberculosis, or their relatives—which was inaugurated in 1926,
but not drawn upon until January, 1927. The Committee have had to
go very carefully at first, the Fund being still in its infancy, but it was
possible during the year to give direct assistance to 14 patients.
Clothing was provided in 6 cases, assistance given towards cost of removal
to houses outside London in 2 cases, and part-cost of dentures paid in
2 cases. A holiday was made possible for a mother after the death of a
daughter who had been nursed at home with surgical tuberculosis for
many months; a deck-chair was bought to enable a patient to sit out
in his garden; fares to visit a relative were allowed in a case where it
was specially necessary, and some general expenses were paid for a
patient in Switzerland. Assistance is only given in those cases in which
it is not possible to get help from any other agency. During the year,
the Committee have made several efforts to increase the Fund, and were
fortunate in August, 1927, in obtaining a weekly contribution from the
Poplar Hippodrome in respect of Sunday Cinematograph Exhibitions.
In November, a successful Household and Jumble Sale was held in aid
of the Fund.
"The Tuberculosis Care Committee are very grateful to the Poplar
Board of Guardians for their continued assistance in helping patients
known to them with clothing for sanatorium, with dentures, and in
many other ways; and also for sending several patients to Papworth
Colony, and providing sanatorium treatment for patients ineligible for
further residential treatment through the London County Council. They
are also grateful to the Council for the provision of beds, bedding and
shelters, and for having taken up the case of one patient who was specially
recommended for treatment in Switzerland, and was sent by the Council
to Leysin in February, 1927.