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50
the tuberculous. it was appreciated that there was a possibility that in some cases
the cash allowance might not be used for this purpose and arrangements were therefore
made for the Council's tuberculosis health visitors to give special attention to
the matter to ensure as far as practicable that these persons do, in fact, obtain the
extra nourishments required.
As from the 1st September, 1948, extra nourishments have, therefore, been
provided by the Council only for persons not in receipt of national assistance,
assessment being made in accordance with the Council's special scale for tuberculous
persons, in which the income allowed before any charge is made is 50% higher than
for other persons.
During 1948 a number of cases occurred in which tuberculous persons receiving
extra nourishment would have been financially worse off than they were before
5th July, 1948, if the Council's scale had been strictly applied. The Council, therefore,
authorised assessment officers to exercise discretion by taking into consideration
unduly high payments for rent and other exceptional circumstances when making
the assessment in such cases.
Dental
treatment
and provision
of spectacles
Dental treatment (including the provision of dentures where necessary), and
spectacles, were provided for patients undergoing residential treatment for tuberculosis
where such provision was considered a necessary aid to treatment. No charge
was made to patients for dental treatment except that any grants received from
approved societies under the National Health Insurance Acts were taken into
consideration. The net cost to the Council from 1st January to 4th July, 1948, in
respect of dental treatment was £486 and in respect of spectacles £9.
Provision of
clothing and
boots (and
repairs)
Where it was certified to be essential to enable patients to benefit from residential
treatment, clothing and boots (and repairs) were provided from 1st January to
4th July, 1948, free in cases where the patients could not make such provision.
Verification of the patients' circumstances was made by the tuberculosis care
committees. The patients were allowed to retain the articles on discharge from
residential treatment.
Boarding
out of child
contacts
As in previous years children were boarded out under the tuberculosis contact
scheme when they were in danger of being infected with tuberculosis at home or
when their parent or parents were recommended for or were receiving residential
treatment for tuberculosis, and for whose care other arrangements were not possible.
The arrangements for boarding out were made to the extent possible by the Invalid
Children's Aid Association on behalf of the Council. There was a continued shortage
of suitable foster homes and accommodation was therefore largely provided by the
Council in its nurseries and residential schools and homes. The number of children
boarded out under the scheme continued to rise and the average number away at any
one time was, in 1945—155, 1946—180, 1947—230, 1948—257. The total number
of children accommodated during the year was 585, of whom 362 were new cases and
223 were children whose stay extended from 1947.
Residential
open-air
schools
Children with a tuberculous background were accommodated during the year
at residential open air schools for delicate children. No child with "open" or
infectious tuberculosis was, however, admitted. The schools in use at the beginning
of 1948 were:—
Burrow Hill Colony School, Frimley;
Kathleen Schlesinger Home, near Henley;
George Rainey School, St. Leonard's-on-Sea;
Wanstead House, Cliftonville; and
Swanley Residential School, White Oak Hospital, Swanley.
Two additional schools, Bowden House School, near Seaford, and Wainwright
Residential School, Broadstairs, were opened during the year. At the end of 1948
the number of children with a tuberculous background accommodated at these
schools was 91.