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104
Employment.
Patients requiring work after return from Sanatoria are given special recommendations
to the Employment Exchange. The number of such patients reported to the Care Committee
during the year was 15.
Provision of Beds and Bedding.
Since 1924 the Council has provided beds and bedding which are lent to tuberculous
patients who would be liable otherwise to spread infection by sharing a bed with another
person or persons. The Tuberculosis Visitors report periodically on the condition of the beds.
The figures for 1937 are:—
Number of Families provided with beds and bedding during the year 3
Number of families using beds or bedding on December 31st, 1937 4
In addition the Public Assistance Committee have been asked to provide and have
provided bed and belding in three cases.
Provision of Garden Shelter.
There is not much scope for the use of shelters for tuberculous patients. One Shelter
provided by the Council at the request of the Care Committee in 1935 is still in use.
Boarding out of Contacts.
Since 1925 the London County Council has made arrangements to board out for
varying periods the following types of children:—
(a) Children living in heavily infected and overcrowded homes.
(b) Children about to be discharged from institutions where they have had
treatment for tuberculosis, in cases where their homes are unsuitable.
(c) "Weakly" children living under conditions likely to subject them to
infection.
(d) Children whose mothers are having institutional treatment for tuberculosis.
The arrangements are made by the Invalid Children's Aid Association on behalf of the
London County Council, and the number accepted and reported to the Care Committee
during 1937 was 9.
Handicrafts Class.
During the year, in conjunction with the Hampstead Tuberculosis Care Committee, a
Handicrafts Class has been formed and up to date has proved very successful. A grant of £10
was made by the National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis and £10 from each
Borough Council through their Care Committees. The London County Council provides the
teacher free of charge, if an average of 14 attendances can be maintained. So far this has
been maintained or exceeded. We have been fortunate in obtaining the services of Mrs. W.
Bridgeman as teacher. Her previous experience of this work, and her popularity with the
members of the class have been of the greatest value.
Voluntary help of great value has been provided by a St. Pancras patient, Mr. S.
Smith, who helps with the Clerical work, and the purchasing of materials for class work by
Mrs. Dixon, a member of the Hampstead Tuberculosis Care Committee, and by Mrs. Ollard,
who has helped to serve the teas during the classes. The class is held at the St. Pancras
Tuberculosis Dispensary every Monday afternoon.
Miscellaneous.
Holidays were provided in co-operation with the Invalid Children's Aid Association
for two patients. Fares were paid twice monthly for two patients relatives to visit them in
Sanatorium, throughout the year. In several other cases fares were paid to enable relatives to