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66
At the first meeting of the new Holborn Tuberculosis Care Committee Miss
H. M. Mathieson, who for a number of years had acted as Honorary Secretary of
the Interim Committee, was appointed Honorary Secretary of the Committee.
Her report for the year is as follows: —
Holborn Tuberculosis Care Covimittee.
During the year the Committee has met 11 times.
52 cases have been considered—29 new and 23 old.
34 cases (30 adults and 4 children) were referred by the L.C.C. for assessment.
Of these, 19 cases were recommended for free treatment, and 15 cases were assessed to
pay contributions, varying from 2s. Od. to 30s. per week, towards the cost of their treatment
and maintenance.
In 3 of the assessed cases the contributions paid were subsequently refunded, as the
Ministry of Pensions acknowledged responsibility for treatment.
Contributions towards the cost of treatment and maintenance, amounting to £130. 14s.,
were collected on behalf of the L.C.C. in 18 cases—13 adults and 5 children. Five of these
cases were still under treatment at the close of the year.
13 Quarterly Progress Reports on G children were received from the L.C.C., and the
information contained therein was conveyed to the parents.
During the year 2 cases were transferred to other T.C.Cs.
G patients accepted by the L.C.C. for treatment were advised to appeal to the Ministry
of Tensions; 5 were successful in their claims under Article 9 of the Royal Warrant. The
sixth is now appealing to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal; his ease lias been referred to the
Pensions Department of the British Legion, and he will be represented by their Expert at
the Court.
One man was referred to, and assisted by the B.R.C.S. Emergency Help Fund, pending
his appeal.
In another case the Committee's recommendation to the Red Cross was forestalled by
Brompton Hospital. He was assisted by the Emergency Help Fund until his case could be
transferred to the United Services Fund. Owing to unemployment this man was ineligible
for any National Health Insurance Benefit during 1924; he was considerably in arrears for
1925, and his income was nil. The Royal Engineers' Charitable Fund was approached, and
was asked to pay his N.H.I. Arrears Penalty and so enable him to go on full benefit in 1925.
The Fund sent a grant of £2, and asked the Committee to expend the balance in whatever
way would most benefit the man.
The other patients did not require assistance pending their appeals.
One widow, whose husband was successful in his appeal to the Ministry of Pensions last
year, was helped to establish her claim. She was successful in obtaining an Alternative
Pension, and an extended maintenance allowance for her physically defective only child.
The case of one widow—whose husband, it was felt, should have been awarded a pension
—was referred to an expert in appeals, but she was not successful in establishing her claim.
One widow was helped to recover a sum which had been over-deducted by the Pension
Issue Office in respect of her child.
Two widows were advised to apply for a Parochial Widow's Charity; both were successful
in obtaining pensions.
The Charity Organisation Society provided clothing for one patient entering Sanatorium,
arranged convalescence in another case, and lent sheets and blankets in a third case.
In one case the Rector of the parish, and in another case the Guardians, provided boots
for patients undergoing Institutional treatment.
Seven children were referred to the Invalid Children's Aid Association for convalescence.
Convalescence was arranged in 5 cases, 1 case was withdrawn by the parents when arrangements
were nearly completed, and in one case the family removed.