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also with the general practitioners in the locality, and
the medical officers of the several institutions (sanatoria,
hospitals, &c.), which constitute elements in the co-ordinated
scheme. He should decide as to the suitability of patients
for the sanatorium, the hospital for advanced cases, &c.,
in co-operation, so far as is possible, with the general
practitioners and with the medical officers of these institutions.
He should also be in close touch with other authorities
(including those responsible for Poor Law institutions),
charity organization societies, and all agencies, voluntary or
otherwise, which have an interest in tuberculous persons.
The Committee desire to lay emphasis upon the necessity
of having suitably qualified and experienced medical
men for the senior appointments in connection with the
dispensaries and sanatoria. Indeed, the effectiveness and
economy of the administration of the scheme suggested by
the Committee will be dependent, in a large degree, upon
the judicious selection of these officers.
With a view to securing desirable officers the Committee
recommend that, in giving or withholding approval,
the Local Government Board should take into consideration
the whole management and staffing of these institutions
(including the tenure and other conditions of appointment
of the staff), not only from the point of view of the advantage
to the patients concerned, but in order to command the
confidence and co-operation of the medical practitioners
within the area.
Whilst not desiring to lay down any hard-and-fast
conditions, the Committee are of opinion that preference
should be given to registered medical practitioners of
suitable qualifications and experience and not less than
twenty-five years of age, who have held house appointments
for at least six months in a general hospital, in addition to
a similar period of attendance at a special institution for the
treatment of tuberculosis They should also be competent
to supervise such laboratory work as may be necessary.