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The necessity for increasing institutional accommodation for advanced cases will
probably be better appreciated from the following particulars concerning the 71 Persons
whose death, from pulmonary tuberculosis, occurred in their own homes.
The number of persons in the families of these 71 cases was 297, and the number of
rooms occupied by these 297 persons was only 205.
In some of the cases the conditions were even more unsatisfactory. For instance, in
nine of the above cases the number of persons in the families, including the patients, totalled
70, and these were all living in 21 rooms.
A very valuable step was taken by the Borough Council during the past year in the
provision of beds and bedding to be lent to tuberculous patients who were compelled to share
a bed with another or other persons. These have proved of great value. They are much
appreciated by those to whom they are lent, and should tend to limit the spread of infection.
Tuberculosis Care Committee.
The functions of this Committee were indicated in a circular issued by the Ministry of
Health to be as follows:—"The primary duty of the Committee should be to consider the
economic position of the family of every patient suffering from tuberculosis as soon as he
comes within the purview of the dispensary scheme, and to render such advice and
assistance as the circumstances of the case dictate, with a view to enabling the family to
adjust their circumstances to the new conditions, to maintain their economic independence, and
to derive the fullest possible advantage from the medical treatment prescribed. Certain kinds
of assistance may be needed in particular cases, viz., additional food, change of air, clothing,
better home conditions, more suitable occupation; the provision of financial or other assistance,
when necessary, for the family of a patient who is under treatment in a residential
institution, or temporarily for a patient and his family on his return home from such an
institution. Where the necessity for financial assistance arises, it can be better provided
through the agency of existing charitable or public organisations than from a fund
administered by the Care Committee, and in such cases it should be the function of the Care
Committee to bring the family into touch with the appropriate organisation. A subsidiary
but important function is to undertake, on behalf of the London County Council, the
assessment of charges made in respect of residential treatment afforded to children and
to adults whose income exceeds a certain figure. It is important, however, to secure that the
activities of Care Committees are not absorbed by the routine work falling under this head to
the detriment of the main functions which are mentioned above."
Although the Ministry of Health is of opinion that it is neither necessary nor desirable
that Care Committees should be in possession of funds, in practice it is difficult, if not
impossible, to carry out all the duties enumerated without having some funds available.
The following particulars concerning the work of the Committee and cases dealt with
have been supplied by the Hon. Secretary, Miss Bibby:—