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74
had arrived early, as they easily could have done, we might have
finished at the normal hour. This difficulty has been overcome by
limiting the time of attendance for new cases from 7.30 to 8.30 p.m. It
has been found that no hardship has resulted from this restriction, and
the new arrangement works quite satisfactorily.
Saturday morning is reserved for school children, so that they
shall not lose time from school, and those adults who find it impossible
to attend at other times.
The department, as in previous years, had the use of two consultingrooms,
to each of which are attached two dressing-rooms, and in
addition a dark room for examination of throat cases.
Each patient, whether new case or old, is seen in order of his
appearance at the Hospital, so that rarely one is kept waiting longer
than a few minutes, and practically never for more than half an hour.
The Nurse first records the temperature, weight, etc., and then
sends the patients singly into the consulting-room, where the Medical
Officer takes the history and makes the neccssary examination.
Interesting, doubtful, or difficult cases are seen by both the Senior
and Junior Medical Officers. This practice adds considerably to the
interest in the work. It sometimes happens that a further opinion is
necessary, in which case the patient is sent to one of the Physicians
in charge of out-patients. As a personal interview is usually of more
value than a written opinion we endeavour to see the out-patient
Physician concerned and talk over the case with him.
livery use is made of the special departments of the Hospital in the
diagnosis of difficult cases. A large number of cases have been referred
to the X-ray department, while cases of surgical tuberculosis are
referred to the Surgeon for an opinion, many of them later being admitted
to Hospital for treatment. While the Surgeon in charge of the
throat department and the Dentist are only too pleased to give an
opinion on any particular case, we have 110 authority to send them cases
for treatment. They have very kindly undertaken this in special cases,
but the arrangement is not satisfactory. The subject was reported to
the Dispensary Committee, and the Borough Councils consulted, with
the result that every effort is now being made to deal with the matter.
With regard to disposal of patients, this has been conducted 011
the same lines as heretofore. An endeavour is made 011 the first
attendance to make a definite diagnosis. This having been done, it then
remains to decide 011 the most appropriate form of treatment applicable
to the case. Patients with signs of early disease are usually transferred
to a sanatorium, while those in advanced and hopeless condition are
sent to a special hospital suitable for those in this stage of the disease.