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48
(b) That the Tuberculosis Care Committee have power to add to their number, subject to
the approval of the Borough Council.
(c) That the proposal be submitted to the Minister of Health and the London County
Council for approval.
In reply, a communication was received from the Ministry of Health, expressing the
opinion that, in view of the nature of the work to be carried out, better results will be
secured from an efficient voluntary body, working in close touch with, but independently of,
the Borough Counci1, than from a committee directly responsible to the Borough Council or
their Public Health Committee. In these circumstances, the Minister is unable to approve
the proposals of the Council in their present form; but he would be willing to approve the
establishment of a voluntary Care Committee of the same constitution'as described in the
Council's resolution, subject to the addition of representatives of the local nursing associations.
The London County Council had written, stating that they agree with tbe views
expressed by the Minister of Health in regard to the establishment of the Care Committee.
The Public Health Committee then recommended that the Tuberculosis Care
Committee for St. Pancras be a voluntary committee, and not constituted as a Sub-Committee
of the Public Health Committee, and on 28th February, 1923, this was approved by the
Borough Council.
A preliminary meeting of the members of the Committee was held on the 25th June,
1923, under the chairmanship of Councillor Dr. E. A. Gregg.
The Committee was organised on the lines laid down in the Circular of the Ministry
of Health, and formally took up its duties on 1st October, 1923. Councillor A. Escott, m.a.b.,
was elected as chairman.
During October, November, and December, 1923, the Committee considered 128 cases.
Of these there were referred to:—
Red Cross 13
Guardians 4
Charity Organisation Society 4
United Services Fund and Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association 4
British Legion 1
Hospital Almoner 2
Private persons 3
Borough Council for extra nourishment 5
Borough Council for dentures 3
Home Helps Committee 2
In addition, 33 cases of children suffering from tuberculosis were dealt with by
Mrs. Philipson, Hon. Secretary of the Children's Aid Association, who has kindly consented
to continue under the new Committee the valuable work for children which she did as lion.
Secretary of the Interim Tuberculosis Care Committee.
The Committee has had under consideration, for reference to appropriate agencies, the
general problems of relief, and, in addition, the special difficulties arising from lack of
accommodation for advanced cases (7 cases were refused by the London County Council in
the three months in question), from want of proper housing accommodation, from the need
for a scheme of employment for cases returning from sanatoria, and from the absence of an
open-air school for affected children.
These cases have entailed a considerable amount of work, and the labours of the
Committee and secretaries are rendered more difficult, in many cases owing to the fast thit tho