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99
REPORT OF THE Secretary of the Tuberculosis Care Committee.
The tuberculosis Care Committee has continued to meet fortnightly
at the Dispensary. The Care Committee, which is appointed by the
Council, is representative of most of the public agencies and charitable
societies in the Borough, and co-operation with these bodies, in the
interest of the tuberculosis patient, is effected by this means. The work
of the tuberculosis Care Committee has been rendered more than ever
necessary by the prevailing economic conditions during 1932.
There have been 21 meetings of the Care Committee during the year
and 398 cases have been dealt with. Of these, 171 were primarily in
connection with assessment for hospital and sanatorium treatment. The
committee has been responsible for the collection of contributions, for
the London County Council, in the cases in which an assessment was made.
In the 227 other cases brought to its notice, the Care Committee has
endeavoured to supply such help or advice as has been required in connection
with any adverse conditions brought about by the occurrence of
tuberculosis. Considerable material assistance has been obtained from
other agencies, but the majority of cases needing practical help have been
referred to our own Charity, the Poplar Tuberculosis Fund for the
Provision of Accessories to Institutional Treatment and After-care.
The Poplar Tuberculosis Fund (which is a Charity approved by the
London County Council) is administered by a separate Committee, and
this has met six times during 1932. Ninety-eight grants have been made
to needy patients. Of these, 48 were in the form of clothing and boots,
warm outfits for sanatorium being continually in demand. Other assistance
given has included provision of dentures, glasses and surgical
appliances, payment of the cost of laundry being put out for women
patients who are not able to do this work themselves, convalescence and
general assistance. No case has been assisted where help could be more
suitably obtained from the Public Assistance Committee.
The main income of the Poplar Tuberculosis Fund has once again
come from local Cinemas, in respect of Sunday opening. The Associated
British Cinemas have contributed, in respect of the Poplar Hippodrome,
throughout the year, and the Fund has been fortunate in receiving contributions
from two other Cinemas—the Poplar Pavilion and the Ideal
Picture Theatre, Poplar—as from November 20th. A grant was again
received from the Alexandra Rose Day Fund, and the amounts received
from these sources have been augmented by the various efforts on the part