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31
TUBERCULOSIS AFTER-CARE FOR 1951
Report of After-Care Almoner (Miss Bridger).
Arrangements were basically the same as in 1950, statutory
and voluntary services working in conjunction with each other.
Special grants continued to be paid through the National
Assistance Board to patients who had lost income in order to
undergo treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis. On December
31st, 1950, there were 189 patients in receipt of these grants which
are arranged through co-operation between myself and the N.A.B.
During 1951 161 new cases were referred and 146 cases ceased
to need assistance, leaving a total of 204 receiving the allowances
at December 31st, 1951. Of the cases ceasing to receive these
grants, 19 died, 73 returned to work, 37 were no longer in need
of assistance on admission to hospital, and 17 were either awarded
pensions or left the district. In addition to these regular weekly
allowances, special grants to cover unforeseen needs were obtained
in 92 cases. These were mainly to enable relatives to visit patients
in distant sanatoria, to help patients and their families with clothing
or with removal expenses when they were re-housed.
Assistance in kind continued to be given by the After-Care
Committee in the form of the loan of beds and bedding to 27
patients. This is particularly valuable in so far as it enables the
patient to begin treatment immediately with a measure of isolation,
and minimises the risk of infection on his return from
Sanatorium. Free milk has also been supplied through the
Council's scheme to those patients whose incomes fall below a
certain level.
Voluntary agencies have continued tne.. much valued
co-operation in supplementing statutory relief. .£130 was.
raised from voluntary sources, such as ex-Service funds, British
Red Cross, trade and professional organisations and local
charities, by appealing on individual cases. This money covered
extra comforts for the patient, wireless licences, holidays for the
family or help with furnishing the home after rehousing.
For the married women patients, their chief worry is the care
of their children whilst they undergo a prolonged spell of treatment.
In 42 cases home help was arranged to enable the mother
of a family to have bed rest at home. Where children could not
he cared for by relatives, arrangements have had to be made with