London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Bermondsey 1920

Report on the sanitary condition of the Borough of Bermondsey for the year 1920

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and, further, that he should keep a register of all the cases of
tuberculosis, from whatever source, occurring in the hospital,
with the results of the treatment. In this way we will not only
benefit from linking up with the hospital, but the hospital will be
able to enlarge the scope of their investigations on this important
disease. The Medical Superintendent agreed .with the suggestions
I put forward here, and promised to bring the matter
before the Medical Committee, and the Governors of the Hospital.
who, I trust, will see their way to adopt these or some similar
suggestions.
With regard to the X-ray, it was suggested by the Committee
that another institution in this Borough could do this work,
but this would be of doubtful utility, since, in the taking of X-ray
photographs two things are required, namely, good technique in
the photographs themselves and also skilled interpretation; the
former requirement would be fulfilled in the institution referred
to. but not the latter. In Guy's Hospital they have a skilled
radiologist, who interprets the results of the photographs, a
factor of really more importance than the taking of the photographs
themselves.
As regard institutional treatment, both for insured and noninsured,
namely, the provision of beds in sanatoria for suitable
cases, and, also, the provision of beds in hospitals for surgical
and other cases, this will be undertaken, as hitherto, by the
London County Council. I understand they are increasing their
beds and, with the additional provision, institutional treatment
will become gradually more efficient.
The special duties of the officers of the Dispensary will be
to take complete charge of the whole of the tuberculous patients
in the Borough. It will be their duty to receive notifications and
to visit the patients at their homes. The Tuberculosis Officer will
also act as general consultant in cases of Tuberculosis for private
practitioners, and the question of sanatorium and special treatment,
whether in hospital or domiciliary, will be decided on by
the officers of the Dispensary, in the first place, and they will
have every opportunity—as officers of this Department—of
becoming fully cognisant of every case of Tuberculosis in the
Borough. They will examine contacts and discover new cases,