[Report 1949] / Medical Officer of Health, St Helens County Borough.

  • St. Helens (Merseyside, England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1949
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1949] / Medical Officer of Health, St Helens County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of the Health Committee. This Sub-Committee consists of the following :— Five members of the Health Committee^ One representative from each of the following bodies : The National Assistance Board, The Ministry of Labour and National Service, The British Legion, The Soldiers,’ Sailors,’ and Airmen’s Families Association. The Tuberculosis Welfare Officer previously appointed by the Health Committee has now become the Executive Officer for that Sub-Committee, and is responsible, under the Medical Officer of Health, for all welfare duties in con¬ nection with its work. A special report on the function and duties of the Care and After-Care Sub-Committee is printed in the Appendix. The arrangements for the prevention of tuberculosis and the care and after¬ care of tuberculosis patients continued to be a major activity of the Council’s scheme for the Prevention of Illness, Care and After-Care. The Tuberculosis Officer when necessary and the Tuberculosis Health Visitor, as a routine part of her duty, visits tuberculous families in their homes to advise them on the principles of hygiene and prevention and to invite contacts to attend the clinic for examination. Other Health Visitors employed by the Local Authority report to the Tuberculosis Officer any adverse features regarding the tuberculosis cases which they have visited. Apart from home visitation and interviews at the Clinic for advice and assistance, the Welfare Officer also assists patients by co-operation and liaison with such national bodies as the National Assistance Board; Ministries of National Insurance and Labour ; the British Legion ; Soldiers,’ Sailors,’ and Airmen’s Families Association ; Order of St. John and British Red Cross Society, etc., as well as the Corporation Housing Department, St. Helens Council for Social Service, etc. Such organisations have proved most willing to provide any financial aid and amenities as have been within their power. Some examples of this work are given below : National Assistance Board.—Patients suffering loss of income to undergo treatment and consequently eligible for a higher rate of allowance are provided v/ith the necessary application forms and certificates regarding individual circumstances by the Welfare Officer, who also makes personal contact with the Board’s Officers. Grants in cases of exceptional need and for extra nourishment have in appropriate cases also been made by the Board. In one instance financial assistance towards the cost of essential furniture was provided. Pocket money allowances to in-patients with no other income w ere also made by the Board during the year.