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136
Tuberculosis Care Committee.—At the end of the year the Committee was
constituted as follows:—
Bodies. Representatives.
Woolwich Borough Council Alderman Mrs. E. Brooks; Councillors R.
Campbell, Mrs. L. E. Driver, G. Greenwood,
C. J. Keedy and S. W. Lister.
Trade Unions Mr. W. H. Fairchild, Mr. E. Ware.
Employers Miss L. Ames, Mrs. D. B. Baldwick, Mr. A. J.
Golding.
Friendly Societies Mr. W. A. Lyon, Mr. A. J. Rourke, Mr. L. R.
Williams.
London County Council Dr. H. R. Kidner, Miss C. F. Aves.
London County Council (Public Assistance Mr. R. Campbell, Mrs. B. G. Dickinson, Mr.
Committee) T. Moran.
London Insurance Committee Mr. S. H. Brown
Panel Committee for the County of London Dr. H. M. Wise
British Red Cross Society Mr. J. O'Connell.
Woolwich Invalid Children's Aid Association Mrs. J. B. Great-Rex.
Late Tuberculosis Dispensary Committee Mr. W. Dashwood, Mr. E. G. Dixon, J.P.
United Services Fund Mrs. A. Evans.
Ex-Officio.
Voluntary Visitors Miss E. Fletcher, Miss D. A. Frye, Miss M. Ross.
Tuberculosis Officer Dr. F. J. C. Blackmore.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. J. MacMillan, D.S.O., M.C.
The Committee are concerned with all the economic and environmental circumstances
of a tuberculous patient, and endeavour to remove or mitigate any condition
which may tend to prevent the carrying out of such treatment as is advised in each
case. It will be readily understood that there are many such difficulties when the
mother of young children, or the breadwinner in a house, is incapacitated by tuberculosis.
The activities ot the Committee comprise, inter aha, the provision of clothing
to necessitous patients entering institutions, payment of fares to relatives to visit
them in hospital, the provision of all nursing requisites, and assistance towards the
purchase of such surgical apparatus as is necessary. Where patients in hospital
have no means the Committee supply a little pocket money for the small necessaries
such as papers, cigarettes, etc.
It is a matter of no small satisfaction that the Occupational Therapy Centre
continues to work satisfactorily and performs the objects for which it was started.
During the year seven patients were able to go back to normal industry. One
patient, a lad of 21, who was very depressed and had developed a marked inferiority
complex and who was threatening suicide as a result of his tuberculosis, became an
entirely different lad after working in the Occupational Therapy Centre. He has
returned to work very greatly improved in health and mentally happy. Experience
had shown that it was desirable in the interests of the men to provide some
mechanical assistance and in April, the Borough Council having placed another
shed at the disposal of the Care Committee, a circular saw and a planing machine
were installed and have been very much appreciated.
Institutional Treatment.—The following Table, No. 60, shows the number of
admissions to special hospitals, sanatoria, public general hospitals, institutions
and training colonies.