Tuberculosis Care Committee
The public health committee held a meeting
on the 7th August 1929 to discuss the recommendation from the Rotherham council
(Corporation.) that a voluntary committee to be known as the "Tuberculosis Care
Committee" should be set up. This voluntary committee would carry out work in
connection with the administration of the after care scheme. They would also work with
representatives of the education and blind person committees. The care committee consisted
of 34 members. At the meeting various aims and objectives were discussed and the honorary
officials were appointed. On the 7th August 1929 the Tuberculosis Care
Committee was officially set up. The work and support the committee would go on to achieve
would greatly help with the progress of TB treatment. The actual work within the new
committee was attempting to deal with a number of issues in finance, employment, and
patient claims. Sub-committees were appointed to deal with these issues.
The finance committee would raise money by organising flag days and flower crusades.
The committee arranged for the sale of matches in bars and hotels etc. Almost every year
Rotherham would hold a health week when health information and advice could be passed onto
members of the public. During the health week of October 14th to the 19th
1929 special performances were given at several theatres and cinemas. After each
performance a collection was taken to aid the Care Committee. During that week £46 18s
11d was raised.
The employment committee would work closely with the employment exchange. They arranged
meetings with would be employers to relieve any fears they might have about TB. Suitable
employment was arranged for a number of patients as car park attendants, odd job men, and
gardener's etc. In January, 1947 the Markets Department of the Corporation entered into an
arrangement with the Care Committee for patient that were ready for leaving the hospital
to work as Car Park Attendants at Central Road Fairground. The Market Department would pay
the men's wages the original requirement amounted to 54 hours per week, however the
committee decided that the seven men should only be employed as attendants for a 40 week
working over a five day a week. Owing to a heavy snow fall which swept the country the
Fairground was closed on the 5th February. In the meantime the Committee continued to pay
the men's wages until the Car Park was reopened on the 17th March.
The claims committee dealt with a number of patient claims. These claims included a
number of ways to support clients once they had left the sanatorium. Extra support with
medical care was given to some patients and these included surgical dressings, home helps,
home night nurses and help with provision of artificial teeth. Other practical provisions
were also provided like clothing, bedding and a bag of nutritious food. For some patients
a sanatorium hut was provided near their home on a suitable site. The committee could also
help in getting better housing in case patients were going back to bad conditions. The
committee would also help with the cost of convalescent homes or boarding out patients to
a suitable seaside or countryside lodging. By the end of the first year that the
Tuberculosis Care Committee was established it had become a very comprehensive programme
and a very successful venture.
The County Borough Council in May 1947 reappointed representatives from the
Tuberculosis Care Committee, Health Committee, Housing Committee, Public Health Committee
as well as a number of voluntary bodies that were actually serving on a committees to form
a Health (General Purposes) Committee.This Sub-Committee would considered care proposals
under the National Health Service Act. During the same year the Care Committee honoured
its Hon.Secretary, Mr.G.E.Westby, with a presentation in acknowledgement of his service
since the inception of the committee in 1929.
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© Neil and Janet Croft 2005