View report page

47
Many children who attend the Dispensary, and who are not
found to be suffering from tuberculosis but are debilitated from
various causes, are sent away for convalescent treatment through the
agency of the Invalid Children's Aid Association. Much good
work is done in this way. The value of complete convalescence
after, for example, a severe attack of measles complicated with
broncho-pneumonia, cannot be doubted, and the assistance of the
Invalid Children's Aid Association in sending to a convalescent
home in the country or at the seaside children who have recovered
from an acute illness or who are not thriving and in need of a change
is frequently asked for children who attend the Dispensary. The
London County Council also has an agreement with the Association
whereby tuberculous children who are not in need of sanatorium
treatment, but who may benefit from a period of treatment in a
convalescent home may be sent away.
The Tuberculosis Dental Clinic, which was established during
the latter half of the previous year, has been in operation
during the whole of the year under review. It has proved to be of
very great benefit to the patients who attend the Dispensary, and who
are found to be in need of dental treatment. No difficulty is experienced
in persuading patients to attend the Clinic. In fact, patients
are only too willing to avail themselves of the opportunity which the
Clinic affords. No charge is made for advice, extractions or fillings,
and where dentures are required the cost of them is met if necessary
partly by the patient and partly by the Care Committee through
various social or philanthropic agencies. Grants in aid are also
frequently forthcoming, if the patient is insured, from the patient's
Approved Society.
Since the coming into force of the London County Council's
Scheme, indicated in last year's Report, closer co-operation has been
secured between the School Medical Service and the Tuberculosis
Dispensary Service. This scheme aims at reducing the number of
children not definitely tuberculous in attendance at the Dispensary,
and securing the supervision of such children by the School Medical
Officer during the child's attendance at School. A special card
provided for the purpose, on which the Tuberculosis Officer gives
such particulars as the name of the child, date of birth, address,
school attended, together with a short history of the case and the
result of examination, is sent to the Divisional School Medical Officer
for transmission to the School Medical Officer concerned. The
following are the classes of cases transferred:—
Class 1.—All "unsatisfactory children," whether "contacts"
or not, who, after a period of observation at the Dispensary,
are considered to be probably non-tuberculous, but
who require supervision.
Class 2.—All "contacts" who, on first examination, are found
to be apparently healthy.