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95
The amount of help that can be rendered by a Care Committee depends on
its ability to get in touch with organisations which can assist the family, and failing
such organisations, upon the funds at its disposal. These funds have to be raised
by voluntary effort. This is no easy matter, and one of the prime necessities of
the Woolwich Care Committee is a number of voluntary workers with some
leisure who can devote themselves to this object. The following are examples
of the Committee's work during 1930:—
(1) A patient—the father of a family of young children, whose wife had
recently died of tuberculosis—developed the disease and was recommended for
sanatorium treatment. His firm were written to and they promised to keep his
job open for him. Meanwhile, the eldest daughter was found to be an advanced
case of pulmonary tuberculosis, and arrangements were made for her to be admitted
to the same hospital as the father where they could be together until she died.
Arrangements were made for the boarding-out of the three younger children, who
have since been admitted to the Royal Victoria Patriotic School, where they will
remain until they are 16 years of age. On the father's return from hospital he was
found to be fit for light work only, but his firm could not give him any, and he had
to revert to unemployment pay. Later he had an opportunity of obtaining a post
as an insurance agent if a deposit of £10 could be met. By means of a Care Fund
the Care Committee were able to advance this to him, and half of it has since
been refunded as a gift from the British Legion. It should be pointed out that
this money is a deposit and reclaimable from the Insurance Society should the
man be unable to carry on. He has since been working regularly and is happy
in the work.
(2) A month's rest at Hastings was arranged, and paid for by the Committee,
for a mother who had been nursing an advanced case, and where there were four
cases of tuberculosis in the family.
(q) Institutional Treatment through the London County Council.—The following
Table, No. 70, shows the number of admissions to hospitals, sanatoria and training
colonies.