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REPORT MADE BY THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF
THE CITY OF LONDON HOSPITAL FOR DISEASES OF THE
CHEST, VICTORIA PARK, ON THE WORK OF THE TUBER
CULOSIS DISPENSARY ATTACHED THERETO FOR THE
YEAR, 1919.
During the first three months of 1919 the dispensary arrangements
which had been in force during the preceding year were
adhered to, but in order to cope with the large number of patients
attending the dispensary it was found advisable in April to provide
two separate tuberculosis officers, one for Hackney and one for
Bethnal Green. It so happened that Dr. Howell, the original
tuberculosis officer for Hackney, was demobilised early in the year;
he therefore resumed charge of the Hackney patients, while Dr.
Hebert continued in charge of those from Bethnal Green.
This necessitated the use of two consulting rooms, which
fortunately were at our disposal, and no alteration of times to which
patients had become accustomed was necessary. Each consulting
room is provided with two dressing-rooms, and a dark room for
throat examinations, and has proved entirely satisfactory for the
rather special requirements of a dispensary. The patients are seen
in the waiting room outside by the nurse, who weighs them and takes
their temperatures, and they come singly into the consulting-room.
The patients are therefore encouraged to mention to the tuberculosis
officer any private or domestic details, and the tuberculosis officer
is not disturbed during his examination by noise made by patients
who are waiting to see him. The clinical notes of cases, with all
correspondence, most of which is of a confidential character, are
brought into the consulting room by the nurse, so that all details of
the case are available without being seen by the patient himself.
The prescriptions are written on a card used solely for this purpose,
so that the notes are not soiled by patients handling them.
There are seven sessions each week, four in the mornings from
10 to 12, and three in the evenings from 7.30 to 9 o'clock. One of