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139
REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1935.
The following is an extract from the report sent to me by Miss Ashe,
the Hon. Organiser:—
The extinction of tuberculosis is a great national ideal, and great
efforts are made towards this goal by the London County Council, who
provide treatment in sanatoria and hospitals, and by the Metropolitan
Borough Councils who provide dispensaries, where home treatment is
given, and the cases are attended and watched, and where necessary,
recommended for hospital and sanatoria treatment.
The Southwark Care Committee, which meets weekly, works as a
supplement to the services above referred to. They see that anyone
under their care is not suffering privations, and when the patient is away,
they do everything possible to ensure that his family is cared for so as
not to cause the patient anxiety.
The funds available for use by the Committee are too small to carry
out schemes of help, so that their chief work consists of interesting various
charitable societies and individuals in such work, and getting them to
render substantial assistance. During 1935, 291 appeals were made,
either personally or by letter. 16 societies were approached, in addition
to the London County Council Public Assistance and Public Health
Departments, for the provision of clothes, when it was not found possible
to get them elsewhere.
A small fund was raised during the year, amounting to £33 10s.
Of this amount, £15 was obtained as the result of a very successful dance
arranged by members of the Committee, and the remainder was raised
by the sale of sketches, painted by the Honorary Organiser.
This fund was used mainly to provide pocket money for patients in
hospitals or sanatoria, who had nothing of their own, and no relations
or friends in a position to assist them. It is found that this little help
makes a great difference to the happiness and contentment of the patients.
One Matron writes "the psychological effect of receiving a small sum
weekly to call their own is very great." Railway fares are also paid to
enable relatives to visit patients.
In some cases, money is not required, but only care and attention,
as, for example, taking the place of responsible relations for people who
have none, and receiving and administering their National Health
Insurance for them. In fact, any service which comes our way.