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43
The Treatment. of Advanced Cases.
The weakest point in the present scheme is still the lack of
adequate institutional accommodation for advanced and failing
cases.
Denial Work.
During the year arrangements were made with the British
Dentists' Hospital that they should provide a qualified dental surgeon
to attend on one half-day per fortnight to give dental attention
to any patient certified by the Tuberculosis Officer as requiring
such with a view to an improvement in their physical condition.
This scheme commenced on the 8th October, since which date 35
patients have been attended by the dental surgeon.
Home of Rest for Advanced Cases.
The Interim Tuberculosis After-Care Committee for Greenwich,
realising the comparative futility of the present system of
discharging incurable and chronic cases to their already impoverished
families and poor homes, where they act as strong foci of
infection, and being of opinion that it would be far preferable
to provide some suitable homely Institution in the district where
they might be segregated, decided to draw the attention of this
Council to this matter, asking them to take into their consideration
the question of providing such an Institution. This matter received
the sympathetic consideration of the Public Health Committee,
and was also very sympathetically considered by the Local Government
Board and London County Council, and it was hoped that
a workable scheme would have resulted. Unfortunately the Council
did not agree to the recommendation of the Public Health Committee,
and, accordingly, these cases have still been allowed to
continue as infecting foci, particularly in the poorest homes in
the Borough.
An attempt was made later on to bring about a combination of
the four adjoining Boroughs of Lewisham, Deptford, Greenwich
and Woolwich for this same purpose. Unfortunately the combination
fell through, and it now remains to be seen whether this
Council, as at present constituted, will be able to make the necessary
provision which is so urgently needed.
Working Centre.
The Interim Tuberculosis After-Care Committee for Greenwich,
realising the difficulty that discharged Tuberculous patients
experienced in finding suitable work under suitable conditions,
decided to draw the attention of this Council to the matter, and
suggest that a working colony might be established in connection
with the Tuberculosis Dispensary. I am glad to be able to state