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94
the sale in its own area, and retains the whole amount collected.
Our first effort in this direction met with a generous response—
£91 16s. 2d. was collected. Expenses amounted to £11 11s. 9d.,
leaving £80 4s. 5d.
As the work of the Care Committee progresses, the need of a
fund of our own becomes more apparent. We are most grateful
to all those whose kindness and generosity have enabled us to start
one, and increased our power to help those in trouble.
During the year, 248 patients have been recommended for
treatment. 1,094 visits have been paid to patients at home and
in hospital. 1,226 persons have been interviewed at the
Dispensary by the Care Committee. 1,096 cases have been
considered by the Committees at their meetings. 2 children have
been boarded out under the Contact Scheme, and one child was
boarded out by the United Services Fund, while the mother was
in sanatorium.
Every case has been dealt with individually, and efforts made
where necessary to assist the patient and the family to adjust
their lives to the altered conditions imposed upon them, as a
consequence of having contracted tuberculosis.
Through appropriate societies and our own fund, we have
helped those in need in many and various ways—clothing, beds,
moving expenses, fares to hospital, extra nourishments, comforts
for the dying, and pocket money for destitute and friendless cases
in hospitals, are some of the forms of help it has been our
privilege to offer.
If really effective care work is to be performed, and to take its
proper place as an adjunct to treatment, financial assistance is
practically indispensable, and necessity rather than qualifications
must constitute the claim.
The equal importance of educating the patient and the family,
and where possible helping them to be self-supporting, is not lost
sight of—the double aim, we trust, works for the common good.
For the fourth year in succession, our Chairman was elected
Chairman of the Standing Conference of the Metropolitan Borough
Care Committees. The Committees representatives have attended
all the meetings held, and many useful suggestions and recommendations
have been forwarded to the London County Council.