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108
Of the cases whose records are at the Clinic, it will be seen
that of the total number that received sanatorium treatment during
the past five years only 43.4% are working or fit for work. The
remainder are dead or too ill to work. In those cases with a positive
sputum, i.e., those in whom tubercle bacilli have been found
in the sputum, only 32.8%, or almost one third, are working or fit
for work.
627, or 75.8% of the total cases discharged, were T.B. + cases;
139, or 16.8% of the total cases discharged, have removed from the
Borough, and as we have no information about their condition at
the end of 1935, they have been ignored in working out the above
percentages.
Tuberculosis Care Committee Report.
During the year 1935 more use than formerly was made of the
facilities afforded by the Tuberculosis Care Committee. Assistance
and advice are particularly valuable at early stages of disability, for
not only is the patient suffering from the shock of finding himself
Tubercular but he has to grapple with a collection of difficult and
unfamilar problems at a time when he is mentally and physically
upset. There are domestic problems, such as keeping the home
together and the disposal of children when the patient is away;
financial problems, such as the continuance of building society
instalments and insurance premiums, and the like. The matter of
insurance premiums is particularly difficult. Patients may have
paid for many years but owing to lengthy periods of Sanatorium
treatment, benefits and membership may lapse and the patients on
being pronounced fit for work are unable to join any society owing
to the nature of their disability. Some require direct financial
assistance, but there are a number of difficulties soluble by the
patients themselves if they only knew the right course of action.
The Care Committee's work is becoming better known, as is
evidenced by the steady year by year increase in the number of
patients coming for advice. 1,025 interviews involving advice and
assistance took place during the year, and 93 families were helped
financially. Financial inquiries numbered over 176, and £304
9s. 2d. was disbursed.