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9
The position with regard to beds for tuberculous cases within
the North East Metropolitan Region has eased considerably within
recent times and some of the small units in the region are now being
closed down and the bed complement is being reduced. Up to now,
no reduction has been made in the number of beds in St. Ann's
Hospital, where there are still 150. (90 Male and 60 Female).
These are available for cases not only in the Tottenham and Wood
Green areas, but for districts in the London area within the North
East Region.
The Chest Clinic is less accessible in St. Ann s Hospital than
it was in the premises in Somerset Road, and I consider that a very
useful service would be performed to the Chest Clinic patients if
some sort of shelter were erected by the 'bus stop at the junction
of St. Ann's Road, and Black Boy Lane. It is a great hardship to
many standing there in all sorts of weather waiting for the infrequent
'buses, and I am sure that whatever small expense such a facility
incurred would be more than justified."
Welfare of the Tubercular Patient
During 1956 917 tubercular patients resident in Tottenham and
Wood Green were assisted by the Chest Clinic Welfare Officer who
has kindly supplied the following summary of some of the subjects
dealt with,
Problem Cases
The past year has been marked by a special effort to deal
with problem patients, with varying degrees of success and
failure. An example is that of a young man who, after many
years in hospital, badly crippled with rheumatoid arthritis
and tuberculous bones and chest, had in addition many serious
personal problems. His rehabilitation was begun at the
local Red Cross Handicrafts Class held daily, with Club
attached. Later he was accepted for a course at the North
West Regional Hospital Board's Camden Medical Rehabilitation
Centre which comprises six months daily full time attendance
at the Centre, the end of the year found him established in
comfortable lodgings with many problems resolved; he was
learning to drive a Ministry of Health Invalid Car, and the
Disablement Rehabilitation Officer had a job earmarked for
him.