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59
The Dispensary Unit.
15. The term "dispensary" is used in this connection
in a special sense as a local centre of expert diagnosis and
treatment. As is pointed out in the Report of the Departmental
Committee, the essential element is not the building
but the expert medical officer to be designated the
'tuberculosis officer.' He should be a person of such
experience, attainments, and professional status as are
likely to command the confidence of the medical
practitioners of the district, on whose effective co-operation
the success of the whole scheme must largely depend. To
carry out his duties efficiently he must usually give his
whole time to the work of the dispensary.
16. Where necessary the tuberculosis officer will be
assisted at the dispensary by a medical staff, which may
include private practitioners giving part of their time to
this work, and one or more junior whole-time officers.
Arrangements for nursing will also usually be necessary.
17. When the scheme is in full operation, persons,
whether insured or not, who are suspected to be suffering
from tuberculosis should be examined by the tuberculosis
officer or officers of the dispensary, who should recommend
the kind of treatment most suitable for each. The
tuberculosis officer and his assistants could thus act as the
medical advisers of the Insurance Committee in carrying
out its duty of deciding which insured persons should
receive sanatorium benefit and what kind of treatment
should be provided for each. In those cases which can
best be treated at the dispensary itself the medical staff
will give the necessary treatment. Where the case is
treated at home under the care of a private practitioner,
the tuberculosis officer will act as a consultant, and, with
the dispensary staff, will assist the practitioner in such way
as may be necessary.