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service if the arrangement whereby Tuberculosis Officers act as Visiting
Consultants to the general hospitals were discontinued or if the function of
Consultant became a nominal one.
I am pleased to say the amount of X-ray work has increased and is now
more in accord with the amount required. Owing to the reduction in charges
for films and the free screening facilities provided by the London County
Council, the cost should not be appreciably more than formerly.
The number of changes in the temporary medical officers during the
past three years has handicapped the Dispensary work and, with two permanent
Tuberculosis Officers, there should be a further improvement in
Dispensary figures.
Tuberculosis After-care.— During 1937 the Tuberculosis Care Committee
held ten meetings. 421 cases of tuberculosis, new and old, came before them
for consideration, and of these nearly 200 were after-care cases needing advice
or help.
The voluntary charitable organisations were approached where possible,
and they gave valuable help in many cases.
The Jewish Board of Guardians assisted needy Jewish patients in various
ways. In several cases a weekly allowance was made while a wage earner
was receiving treatment, arrears of rent were paid twice for a family, and
one patient was provided with tools to enable him to start work, besides
many grants of extra nourishment and convalescent treatment being given.
The Charity Organisation Society have again assisted many cases during
the year. Six people recommended for convalescence obtained it through
this Society, one patient was helped with the cost of dental treatment, insurance
contributions were paid for another patient, and the relatives of two patients
were allowed the fare to visit them at sanatorium.
The Invalid Kitchens again gave extra nourishments and dinners to
several patients who were not eligible for this from other sources, and the
United Services Fund provided clothing for three ex-soldiers entering sanatorium,
besides paying twice for an ex-soldier to visit his child receiving
treatment at the seaside.
The Public Assistance Department of the London County Council assisted
financially several families recommended to them by the Care Committee,
and the London County Council where necessary provided extra clothing
required by patients undergoing treatment.
Two fresh applications were received by patients requiring a separate
bed on discharge from sanatorium, and these were supplied on loan through
the Borough Council. One man being nursed at home was lent a bed rest
by the Council.
With the "Dr. Ferguson Memorial Fund" the Committee was able to
help many patients from its own resources who otherwise could not have
been assisted.
From the Care Committee Fund twelve destitute men were allowed grants
of pocket money to buy little extras at sanatorium; insurance arrears were
paid for a patient to enable him to come into benefit, and the relatives of
three patients were allowed the fares to visit them at sanatorium.