View report page

22
TUBERCULOSIS CARE SUB-COMMITTEE
During 1947 there was considerable discussion on the changes likely to be made
in the Tuberculosis Service under the National Health Service Act, particularly
with regard to the future of Care Work. The Shoreditch Tuberculosis Care Committee
was represented at the Standing Conference of Metropolitan Boroughs
Tuberculosis Care Committees, at which the Chairman and Members of the Public
Health Committee of the London County Council were present. At the Conference,
Tuberculosis Care Committees were invited by the London County Council to continue
their work for a trial period of three years after the inauguration of the new Health
Service in July, 1948, and were informed that any monies subscribed voluntarily
to their funds could be spent by the local Tuberculosis Care Committees as they
wished, as heretofore. The realisation that such funds could continue to be
administered by the local Committees was welcome indeed to all those interested in
the future of the tuberculous patient.
In 1947 £264 was added to the fund through the Seal Sale and the following
donations were also received:-
United Charities of St. Leonard £17 10s. 0d.
Alexandra Day Fund 5 0s. 0d.
Sturt Hoxton Estate £2 2s. 0d.
A special gift of £26 10s. 0d. was received from the Hoxton Excelsior Silver Band,
which the Committee gratefully acknowledge.
A very successful dance was held on the 21st November, 1947, when the net
proceeds were £122.
Some special payments may perhaps be recorded:—
An ambulance was provided to take a bed-patient from Shoreditch to Romford,
where she was going to live with a sister.
Fares for two children to be taken to stay with their grandmother in Wales
whilst their father (an infectious case) was obliged to remain at home
awaiting a hospital vacancy.
Such charges are not met out of any Statutory Fund.
A very useful purchase made by the Committee was some mattresses, in order
that some bedsteads given to the Committee by various private individuals might
be utilised as gifts to families who were not eligible for beds on loan through the
Borough Council.
The Hoxton Market Mission very kindly arranged that a wheel chair could be
delivered to the invalid wife of a patient, for her permanent use, free of charge.
Many patients were helped through the Women's Voluntary Services and also
through the Shaftesbury Society, where the Committee were enabled to purchase
clothes for mothers and children at a very reduced rate.