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44
as the figures for 1930 suggest, and this view is supported by the figures in
the early months of 1931.
The following Table shows the sources from which new cases were
referred to the Dispensary during the last three years. It will be seen
that the proportion referred from each source is a fairly constant one.
1928. 1929. 1930.
Practitioners 149 169 139
Health Visitors 159 162 121
St. Stephen's Hospital 61 65 41
Ministry of Pensions 10 8 6
School Medical Officers 42 33 15
Hospitals 11 11 7
Friends, Charitable Organizations,
etc. 20 13 12
452 461 341
A survey of the cases of Tuberculosis notified in Westminster during
1930 shows that 66 per cent, were seen by the Tuberculosis Officer during
the year at the Dispensary or in St. Stephen's Hospital. A further
15 per cent, were recommended for treatment from Hospitals which they
were attending and a fair proportion of these will probably attend the
Dispensary after Sanatorium treatment. 11 per cent, were not available
for Dispensary attendance, some because they died very shortly after
notification, some because they were above the usual Dispensary standard
and obtained private treatment, and a few because they were resident in
mental or other institutions outside the City. Only 8 per cent, who might
reasonably have attended did not do so, and some of these left the district
soon after notification. A very small proportion refuse to attend. These
proportions seem to be fairly constant in different years and give a good
indication of the work of the Dispensary with regard to definite cases of
Tuberculosis. In addition, old cases are supervised, contacts examined,
and suspects referred by practitioners or School Medical Officers are kept
under observation for a period.
It has been pointed out in previous reports that there has been in
recent years a large exodus of patients from Westminster, and this
continues. 40 per cent, of the new patients found to be tubercular during
1930 were only temporary residents in Westminster, such as domestic
servants (14 per cent.), residents in Common Lodging Houses, young
foreign waiters and other single men in temporary employment. Many
of these leave the City after treatment. In addition, many permanent
residents, after the occurrence of a case of Tuberculosis in the family,