TUBERCULOSIS PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27450, 25 July 1950, Page 4

TUBERCULOSIS PROBLEM

Insufficient Light Jobs Available DISCHARGED PATIENTS PA TIMARU, July 24. Tuberculosis patients discharged al fit for “light work” were frequently unable to get suitable employment and drifted bask to their former occupations, and the resultant rate of more than 25 per cent, of returns to sanatoria was causing grave concern to the tuberculosis associations throughout New Zealand, said Mr L. V, Farthing, at Timaru this evening. Mr Farthing, who is a Dominion councillor of the New Zealand Federation of Tuberculosis Associations, was ‘emphasising the value of the assistance given by the associations to postsanatoria cases at a meeting of the South Canterbury Association. Patients in sanatoria received unquestionably good care, but numbers of discharged patients who frequently had heavy or injurious occupations were unable to find light or suitable employment, and as a consequence many suffered relapses and had to return to sanatoria. One of the most important functions of the tuberculosis associations in New Zealand was to assist such sufferers to rehabilitate themselves in suitable jobs, said Mr Farthing. This important aspect of the care of tuberculosis patients was to be fully dealt with at the next annual meeting of the New Zealand Federation, he added.