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Tuberculosis Care Committee.
The Tuberculosis Care Committee on which are represented voluntary
and official bodies, and whose meetings are attended by the Medical
Officer of Health, continues to supply help to tuberculous persons
and to relatives who require assistance which cannot be obtained from
official sources or where urgency or special circumstances indicate
that the voluntary sources of the Care Committee are preferable.
Although tuberculosis is slowly but surely being conquered, the
public should realise that much help is still needed to be given to
persons suffering from the disease.
During the year help was given to needy persons by way of clothing,
fuel, furnishings, grants towards debts and fares to relatives visiting
patients in sanatoria. The Caro Committee again provided a day's
coach outing to the sea for 23 patients and Christmas gifts to 50
patients.
Recuperative holidays were arranged for 19 patients and at the end
of the year 87 patients were in receipt of extra nourishment through
the London County Council's Scheme.
The Annual Christmas Seal Sale Fund amounted to £185 and this was
supplemented by donations from various organisations, for which the
Care Committee is most grateful. Where possible grants were obtained
from statutory and voluntary funds, but where these could not be
obtained the funds of the Committee were used.
Help was also obtained from appropriate sources for patients
attending the Chest Clinic and suffering from chronic bronchitis or
lung cancer. The number of these patients is increasing and many
are in need of help and advice.
Whooning Cough.
Cases notified during the year numbered 223, the figure for 1959
being 76. There were no deaths from the disease.
Infectious Disease Contacts.
Where a person is precluded from continuing at work by reason of
being a carrier or having been in contact with an infectious disease,
benefits under the National Insurance Act, 1946, are paid only on
production of a certificate from the Medical Officer of Health. It
was found necessary to issue one such certificate during the year.
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