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64
She brings to the knowledge of the Care Committee all necessary
facts relating to the patient or his family, and acts on its decision
or suggestion.
Need for a Fund.
It is manifest that though the Guardians and the Charitable Societies
do everything possible to assist in tiding patients and their families over
economic difficulties, none the less one feels the need of a fund to aid
certain cases. Thus, where a mother wishes to visit her child resident
at a Sanatorium, part payment, at least, of the fare could be made.
There are necessitous cases too which might be helped, and a little
advertising for employment might be attempted, tentatively by way of
a start.
When a father is admitted to a Sanatorium, the Insurance Benefit
which helps the wife and family, can be supplemented by assistance
from the Guardians (or it may be that the Red Cross assist the family
of an ex-soldier), but what of the family where it is the mother who
has to go to the Sanatorium ? The family income remains the same,
but the expenditure is much increased as the father has to pay for some
help in the home. It is in such a case that a Fund would be a great
help. Outfits for necessitous patients going into Hospital or Sanatorium
are given by the Red Cross in the case of ex-service men, and in respect
to others, by the Charity Organisation Society.
The Deptford Tuberculosis Care Committee consists of twenty-two
members. Six of these are Aldermen or Councillors (but one of the
Councillors sits as a Guardian's representative, another represents the
Soldiers and Sailois Families Association). Other representations
are : Guardians (total 2); London Insurance Committee; District
Nursing Association; Invalid Children's Aid Association; Lady
Almoner, Miller Hospital; Panel Committee (doctor); Friendly
Societies; Trade Unions; Local Charitable and Social Organisations (3);
Medical Officer of Health; Tuberculosis Officer; Divisional Medical
Officer; School Care Committee Organizer; War Pensions Committee.