Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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Care Committee. The Tuberculosis Care Committee considered
204 cases at their meetings during 1946. Of these, 148
were patients who were eligible for the tuberculosis maintenance
allowances and did not need any further immediate
assistance. The remaining 56 patients required help in the
form of pocket money whilst in sanatorium, warm clothing,
fares for relatives to visit, assistance with removal expenses,
etc.
The Committee was able to help in all these needy, cases,
thanks to the continued success of the Christmas Seal Sale,
which provides practically the whole of the Committee's voluntary
fund for supplying the "extras" which will always be
a necessity for our patients. The 1946 Seal Sale was the
most successful yet held, and the Committee would like to record
its appreciation of the generous response given by local
people to their appeal.
An expenditure up to £50 was sanctioned to be spent on
Christmas donations to the poorest families. These gifts
were very much appreciated and many letters of grateful thanks
were received.
Several patients had special dinners at the Invalid
Kitchens in Stepney Way. The dinners were al3o delivered to
some bed-ridden patients at their homes for a time, and were
of great help to women who were ill and had no one to cook
for them.
It has not yet been possible to reopen the handicraft
class at the Dispensary, but several patients are working at
home on rugs, handbags, gloves, etc., when they can obtain
the materials, which can Only be bought with a licence, and
in very small quantities.
During the year a total of over £212 has been spent as
follows in making a little easier the lot of those who had the
misfortune to develop this long and costly illness:-
Pocket money for small extras in sanatorium £72
Fares for relatives to visit patients £26
Warm clothing £56
Extra comforts and Christmas gifts £58
Institutional Treatment. The number of patients
recommended to the London County Council for Sanatorium
treatment has varied very little during the past seven
years in spite of the drop in the population of the Borough
during that period. This has been due to a smaller decrease
of numbers of the tuberculous compared with the
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