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56
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1982.
then recommended for free treatment. During the year the
Committee has undertaken the assessment of 415 patients, both
adults and children, and has also undertaken the collection of
the contributions. The amount collected and remitted to the
London County Council was £850 5s. 6d.
Soon after the Committee was established some twelve years
ago it was apparent that the value of the work it could carry
out would be increased materially if funds were available. No
grants from public funds were provided and certain members
of the Committee therefore decided to organise a voluntary fundA
considerable amount of success has attended their efforts and
a small fund has been established. This fund is not intended to
assist families in their living expenses as other organisations
are available to grant assistance of this nature, but the money
collected is utilised to help cases of tuberculosis in other ways.
Assistance is given from this Fund to patients who are in need
of convalescent treatment for which they are unable to pay,
all the cases being investigated by the Secretary.
If a patient going to an Institution is unable to pay his railway
fare the Committee help him in this respect. Aid is also given
in special cases to assist in the payment of rent in order to tide over
a period of distress. When it is found that the patient's illness is
the cause of the non-payment of rent the debt may be settled in
order to enable the case to receive proper treatment. The amount
paid on this account during the year was £17 0s. 6d. Advances
are also made to meet arrears in Insurance payments. As already
mentioned a certain amount of clothing is purchased out of this
Fund.
During 1932 eight patients were sent to convalescent homes
at a cost of £46 8s. Od.
The Committee has collected several beds and a small
quantity of bedding which is loaned to patients requiring them,
especially when one of the Council's shelters is being used.
In 1932 1,010 cases were visited and interviewed by the Secretary.
58 cases were referred to and helped by the various exservice
organisations. About 70 per cent. of the cases sent to
Institutions were supplied with clothing, either from the stock