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received from local practitioners, and it has been found in practice that
successful co-ordination of the work as far as the patients' interests are
concerned lias been obtained by relying on informal letter writing, telephonic
communications, and personal meetings. Therefore it would appear that the
main benefit to be derived from the new method of procedure will be that
more systematic records will be available. It is very much to be hoped that
it will not result in a more official and less personal relationship between
ourselves and our medical colleagues in the two boroughs.
During the year the Medical Practitioners of Bethnal Green have asked
my colleague and myself to address them on matters of clinical and administrative interest, and it has been a very great pleasure to us both to accept their
kind invitations and to acknowledge their hospitable treatment on these
occasions.
Towards the end of the year, as a result of negotiations carried out at the
instance of the London County Council, I was appointed honorary consultant
to the Bethnal Green Hospital, and have already entered upon these duties,
visiting the hospital one afternoon a week.
I submit at the end of this report a statistical summary of the work done
at the Dispensary during the year 1923. A comparison with the corresponding
figures for 1922 will show a considerable increase under nearly all headings.
Thus the number of new cases has risen from 685 to 851. On investigation
of the table giving the source of these cases it will be seen that the increase is
entirely due to the greater number sent to the department by the local practitioners
for consultation and to those referred by the Medical Officer of Health
for examination as contacts. I think one might justifiably infer from these
figures that the practitioner continues to regard the department favourably,
and finds it of use in the investigation of his cases. The total number of
positive contacts was 36, representing a percentage of 6.8. The fact that we
have again made full use of the facilities for referring cases to the various
departments of the Hospital for special opinions is seen by reference to the
figures in the last table.
In conclusion, I should like to thank the Dispensary Committee, the
Medical Officer of Health, the Hospital Physicians and Surgeons, the Resident
Medical Officer, and the Hospital Secretary, for their help and advice, and also
the Dispensers, the Clerk, the Nurse, and the Porter, all of whom have done
their work very efficiently.
(Signed) H. TYLFORD HOWELL.
6th March, 1924.