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53
Experiments in other parts of Britain show how a small group
of social workers who locate themselves inexpensively in a council
house or similar accommodation in the centre of a high need area, by
becoming trusted by the community and readily accessible, can reach out
to the most withdrawn families and encourage them to be more responsive
to those offering help. The community social worker is essentially a
catalyst, encouraging members of the community to help each other
through crises and to join together in co-operating with services
available. He hopes to make himself unobtrusive, capitalising on the
tradition of self-reliance which has been whittled down by the
increasingly complex apparatus of the Welfare State.
Crucial to the success of these projects is an accessible
unit based in the area of need. The social workers are then on the
spot to encourage parents to work together in providing facilities for
themselves and their children. In this way social workers are best
placed to channel the voluntary help from the wider community which it
is hoped will play an important part in the future in providing personal
help to families under pressure.
Tuberculosis
The measures for the prevention, control and treatment of
tuberculosis are directed by the chest physicians and staff of the
Chest Clinic at Kingston Hospital.
During 1938 cases were notified in the borough and of
these, 31 were pulmonary and 7 non-pulmonary.
The 31 pulmonary cases were in the undermentioned stages of
the disease:
A. or Tuberculosis - (sputum negative) 13
B.1 or Tuberculosis + (early cases, sputum
positive) 5
B.2 or Tuberculosis + (intermediate cases,
sputum positive) 9
B.3 or Tuberculosis + (advanced cases,
sputum positive) 4
The non-pulmonary cases were:
1 Tuberculous Mediastinal glands
1 Tuberculous glands of neck