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(j) West Ham Tuberculosis Voluntary After-Care Committee.
The inaugural meeting of those invited to participate in the establishment of
this Committee was held in the Town Hall in January under the Chairmanship of the Deputy
Mayor. The aims and purposes of the Association were explained by the Chest Physician,
Medical Officer of Health and others; and a broad outline was given of the type of case
who could be helped and the various ways in which the help could be provided. The range
of endeavour could embrace the tuberculous individual while undergoing domiciliary or
sanatorium treatment and also in the subsequent fields of employment and rehabilitation.
Nominations for membership included representatives of professional, industrial, voluntary
and charitable organisations in the Borough, private individuals and both members and
officers of the local hospital and health authorities. The Chairman of the Borough Health
Committee, the Medical Officer of Health and the Superintendent Nursing Officer, or their
respective deputies, serve on this Committee.
The Committee was registered as a charity in accordance with the National Assistance
and War Charities Acts and duly affiliated to the National Association for the Prevention
of Tuberculosis.
The Committee has met monthly during the year and steady progress has been maintained
in its activities, its policy being to provide those things necessary for the well-being of
tuberculous patients and their families which cannot be provided from public funds. An
Appeals Sub-Committee was formed and several functions were held during the course of the year.
The Tuberculosis Health Visitors attend the meetings of the Committee and advise the
members in their assessment of the cases requesting assistance. They are in a favourable
position to do so by virtue of their intimate knowledge of the social, medical and financial
circumstances of the patients. They may also take the initiative in presenting cases which
they have found during their routine work and have considered to be in need of the Committee's
help.
Grants have been made by the Committee to tuberculous patients or their relatives for
the following main reasons:-
Pares to visit patients in hospitals.
Provision of clothing, bedding and furniture.
Holiday grants.
Extra nourishment and milk.
Removal expenses, settlement of special debts, etc.
In addition, gifts of Savings Stamps affixed to a special Greetings Card were sent to
l6l patients in various hospitals at Christmas.
Although the Association is only of recent formation, the members have shown a keen
enthusiasm. The vigour of discussion at meetings and the careful consideration given to all
cases augurs well for future development. It can truly be said that the Association is forming
a valuable link in the chain of treatment of the tuberculous patient whose long and protracted
illness raises many problems not only of a financial but of a social nature, which cannot always
be adequately covered by the provisions of the State Services. Finally, West Ham need no longer
feel at a disadvantage to neighbouring Authorities who have long established Care Committees.
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