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89
Report on Work of the Tuberculosis Care Committee, 1933.
Before beginning our report on the work of the Tuberculosis
Care Committee, we must place on record our deep regret and
sense of loss occasioned by the death of Councillor Mrs. Tiffen, J.P.,
after a short illness, on 3rd November, 1933. She was one of
the oldest members of the Tuberculosis Care Committee and a
consistently regular attendant. Her exceptional knowledge of
individual cases was particularly invaluable. She leaves a blank
that will be hard to fill, and will be greatly missed.
Looking back over the year, the outstanding feature of the
work is the additional duties that have devolved upon the Care
Committee in connection with the amendment of the Council's
Scheme for the treatment of Tuberculosis, which came into effect
on 1st April, 1933. As from that date all persons receiving
residential treatment for Tuberculosis were brought within the
scope of this scheme. Prior to 1st April, 1933, certain cases
were dealt with under the scheme and were assessed by the
Tuberculosis Care Committees, the assessment being reviewed by
the Public Health Committee of the London County Council.
The remainder, most of whom were patients in General Hospital,
were assessed by the Local Public Assistance Committee.
Under the new arrangement, the assessment of every case
receiving residential treatment for Tuberculosis will be dealt
in the first place by the Tuberculosis Care Committee and
reviewed by the Public Assistance Committee. This ensures
uniform treatment, and enables the Committee to establish the
intimate and personal touch with every case that is so essential
to Care work.
The welfare of the tuberculous persons and their families is of
primary importance to the care Committees. Because of this,
every effort was made by the Standing Conference of Borough
Council Tuberculosis Care Committees, to urge that the assessment
of contributions towards the cost of residential treatment
should continue to be undertaken by the Care Committees, and
it is a matter for congratulation that this end has been achieved.
From the Care Committee point of view, the fact that every
case sent away for treatment is now dealt with in the first place