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CHEST DISEASES CARE COMMITTEES
Three such committees operate in the borough and I append the reports of the
consultant chest physicians on the work of the committees and clinics during the year.
Dr. M. Caplin, Consultant Chest Physician to the Chest Clinic at The London Chest
Hospital reports:
"The work of the Hackney and Bethnal Green Chest Diseases Care Committee has
continued throughout the year. In addition to the usual activities of the Committee
in providing fares for relatives to visit patients in hospital, holidays for wives
and families of patients, clothing, television licences, fuel allowances, the
Committee provided parcels at Christmas for the lonely and needy, and Christmas
presents to the tuberculosis ward in Bethnal Green Hospital, and the wards of the
London Chest Hospital.
Wherever possible the Committee first enlists the help of statutory sources in
attempting to solve the patient's problems, and we have been pleased to refer
many of our patients to the National Assistance Board (now the Ministry of Social Security)
for maintenance grants, for additional needs grants such as clothing, etc.,
and extra nourishment and fuel allowances.
Our close liaison with the Ministry of Labour, in particular the disablement
sections, has ensured that patients whose work is considered unsuitable have been
given sympathetic help and consideration.
The pattern of life is changing rapidly in the field in which the Committee
operates and the ageing population is leading to greater problems of care and
attention at home. We have found considerable help with this problem by being able
to send a large number of our chronic sick housebound patients to Darvell Hall,
Robertsbridge, and Eversfield Chest Hospital, St. Leonard's-on-Sea,for holidays.
In this way not only has the patient benefitted but also the strained relatives.
The ability to obtain hospital beds has helped solve the problems of acute illness,
but chronic illness brings with it a great need for increased financial help and
domestic help, diversional therapy and a voluntary body interested in 'their' type
of illness, all of which services we have been able to call upon to help our patients.
Our principle problems in the clinic lie within the categories of housing and
employment. Included in the category of housing difficulties are those living in
poor conditions, those who are overhoused, and those imprisoned by their inability
to cope with the stairs to their flat. The employment problem can be divided into
two categories, first the acute shortage of light work for the unskilled worker
probably aged 50 or more, and secondly when such work is available the grossly inadequate
pay which is offered for the post makes it difficult for him to accept it.
21.