London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Bethnal Green 1913

Report on the sanitary condition and vital statistics during the year 1913 together with the report of the Chief Sanitary Inspector

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59
recommending the use of the site of 18, Patriot Square
(the property of the Council) for the establishment of a
dispensary entirely under the control of the Council,
with provision for a sufficient staff. It was, however,
felt after further consideration that, until the questions
outstanding between the central bodies had been settled,
and definite lines laid down by the County Council, the
Council should hold its hand.
15. Following is a note of correspondence with the
Chest Hospital, which may possibly prove useful in the
further preliminary deliberations of this Committee :—
16. On the 15th January, 1913, the Town Clerk,
by the direction of the Public Health Committee, communicated
with the Secretary of the Victoria Park Chest
Hospital inviting any observation which it might be
desired to make in connection with the establishment of a
Tuberculosis Dispensary which the Council contemplated
undertaking.
17. The Hospital Authorities in reply stated that
they considered the provisions of the Act offered an
opportunity of a natural and valuable development of
the Hospital's work, and that they would be neglecting
their duty if they failed to co-operate in the scheme;
and furthermore that they would be disposed to
recommend the Committee of Management to undertake
the work upon voluntary lines as regarded arrangements
which would not involve additional expenditure.
18. The meaning of the last sentence is not quite
clear, but the statement should be borne in mind in the
event of any further negotiations.
19. The letter points out the great value of the
accumulated experience of hospital staffs in the treatment
of Tuberculosis, particularly in its early stages;