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16
Co-operation
As it is difficult to detect tuberculosis in early cases without X-rays, it is essential to have the
general practitioners acting promptly in referring patients with suspicious symptoms to the chest physician.
Meetings of general practitioners are held at the local hospital where the chest physician demonstrates the
results of early diagnosis and treatment.
Monthly meetings are held with the chest physician, the welfare officer, the superintendent of
health visitors, midwives and home nurses, the home help organiser and the chief sanitary inspector,
where measures which will help individual cases are discussed, together with suggestions for improvements
of the scheme as a whole in the area.
Arrangements were made in home help cases for appeals against assessments to be dealt with
promptly to avoid patients being alarmed by a high notice of assessment; notes and a talk were given to
home helps on the spread and prevention of infection; the meals on wheels service was provided for some
patients; deaths occurring within one year or before notification were investigated; arrangements were
made to trace contacts of infective cases in factories (see page 15); and factory managers were encouraged
to employ non-infectious ex-tuberculosis patients on the recommendation of both the chest physician and
the medical officer of health.