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111 July, Miss H. M. Whelon, of 76, Makepeace Mansions, Highgate, was good enough
to place her voluntary services at the disposal of the Care Committee as Hon. Secretary, and
they have appointed her to that position. Miss Whelon is experienced in this work, and is a
member of the Care Committee of St. Anne's School, Brookfield. The Committee also recommended
that Miss Andrews, who has performed clerical work for the Care Committee in
addition to her ordinary duties in the Public Health Department since 1st February last,
should continue to do so and be paid for these extra services (outside the ordinary office hours)
at the rate of £20 per annum.
The Borough Council are empowered to defray reasonable expenses of the Care Committee,
and the Ministry of Health and the London County Council contribute one-half and
one-fourth respectively of the cost.
The Borough Couucil approved the above recommendations, and subsequently communications
were received from the Ministry of Health and the London County Council
approving the appointment of Miss H. M. "Whelon as Hon. Secretary of the St. Pancras Tuberculosis
Care Committee, and a payment at the rate of £20 per annum to Miss A. Andrews for
clerical duties performed outside office hours for the Care Committee. The Exchequer
tuberculosis grant will be available in aid of the Borough Council's contribution in respect of
this expenditure.
Tuberculosis Cake 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 mcdical 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 res idential
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 arc mentioned above."
The Care Committee have been fortunate in securing the services of Miss Whelon as
Hon. Secretary. Since her appointment, not only is the routine work ably and actively carried
out, but, thanks to her energy and initiative, a large number of necessitous patients have been
helped with clothing, and at Christmas with gifts of provisions.
The following particulars concerning the work of the Committee and the cases dealt
with have been supplied by the Hon. Secretary—Miss Whelon:—