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42
Tuberculosis Care Committee for Shoreditch.
32, Herbert Street, Hoxton, N. 1. Telephone: Clerkcnwcll 7313.
Report by Miss Sutton Sharpe., Hon. Secretary.
The Tuberculosis Care Committee has for its Chairman, Dr. Maitland Radford
(M.O.H.), Vice-Chairman, Dr. Leitch (T.O.), and the following members: Miss
Broomfield (I.C.A.A.), Rev. F. E. Birch, Dr. Fanning (Assist. M.O.H.), Sister Grange
(Dispensary Nurse), Miss Hiscoke (T.B. Nurse), Mrs. Jeger, Dr. Kelleher (St. Leonard's
Hospital), Miss Kastor (Red Cross), Councillor Kenny, Dr. Lewis (Hoxton House),
Miss Marriott (District Organizer of Children's Care Committees), Miss Miller (C.O.S.),
P. Rochliff, Esq. (Tabernacle House), Miss Tucker (East End Workers amongst the
Poor), Miss Wragge (Maurice Hostel), and the Hon. Secretary, Miss Smith (and later,
Miss Sutton Sharpe).
This Committee consists thus of officials dealing with Tuberculosis and social
workers in the Borough.
These two sides are very necessary in dealing with the care of Tuberculous
patients from every aspect.
The Care Committee is not for medical work, but to give the help on the social
side so necessary' in these cases.
Each Tuberculous case is considered by this Committee and changes of occupation,
changes of accommodation and many and various forms of help are given. Much
advice is given about insurance benefits and the patients are put into touch with
charities and various forms of relief which are obtainable by the sick and disabled.
495 cases were considered by the Committee. These were patients about to go
to sanatorium treatment and returning from such treatment, or in a few cases those
not suitable for admission to Institutions. On occasions it is the family, while the
patient is away, that needs especial care. In one case a man who was away for some
months became worried about his wife at home who was working very hard to keep
the home together. He would have discharged himself had not this Committee
found out the trouble in time and came to the rescue and enabled the man to continue
his treatment with a free mind. Help was given to the wife through the C.O.S. by
their keeping up her wages (piece work) to a comfortable standard until her husband
came home again. Even after he returned the C.O.S. helped the young couple until
they were established again. Money was provided, but the essential help in this,
as in many cases, was the friendship and feeling of security this brought to the
patient and his wife.
In another case two sisters whose mother had died were found to be tuberculous,
the eldest with lung trouble, the other being a surgical case. The father was very
eager to keep them at home to look after the younger children, but both were sent
away for treatment, and the eldest on completing this was got into service in a
sanatorium and did very well there.
When the younger one, who was at a children's hospital, grew older, her elder
sister implored the T.C.C. to help her also and to prevent her becoming a mere lame
drudge at home, and it was arranged that she should go through the Guardians
straight to Chailey where she still is.