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APPENDIX
Bethnal Green Tuberculosis Dispensary
REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1922
By H. Tylford Howell, M.R.C.S., Eng., L.R.C.P., Lond.,
Clinical Tuberculosis Officer.
There has been no change in the personnel of the Dispensary during the
last two years, the department being very fortunate in having retained the
services of Dr. Hamilton, the Junior Tuberculosis Officer, and also of the
Nurse and Clerk.
There are seven sessions each week, five morning sessions (on Monday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 10 to 12 o'clock), and two
evening (on Wednesday from 5.30 to 7 o'clock and on Thursday from 7.30 to
9 o'clock). Saturday mornings are reserved for school children, and such adults
as find it difficult to attend at other times, while Wednesday and Thursday
evenings are reserved for patients who are at work during the day. Patients
may present themselves during any part of the morning session, and on
Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 5.30 to 6.30, and from 7.30 to 8.30
respectively. With this method the patient's period of waiting is considerably
reduced, the majority being seen by the Tuberculosis Officer within a quarter
of an hour of their appearance at the hospital, while it seldom happens that
one has to wait for more than half an hour. Although the morning sessions
are advertised as of two hours' duration, and the evening one and a half
hours', it is generally found necessary to extend these times.
Previous to 1922, both evening sessions were held from 7.30 to 9 o'clock,
but it was found that a number of patients came direct from their work to
the hospital, with the result that they had to wait for an hour or more before
being seen. The earlier evening session on Wednesday meets this difficulty,
while those who work later may still attend on Thursday.
The accommodation of the department is adequate in every respect, and
although I have visited several dispensaries during the year, I have not seen
Ode nearly so well equipped. This is due to the fact that we have at our