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Owing to the increase of work in the dental department, upon
which I have already submitted a report to the Maternity and
Child Welfare Committee, it may no longer be possible for either
Dr. Grantley Smith or Dr. Plimsoll —who administers dental
anaesthetics —to take part in the work of the Solarium. This
will leave two doctors only, both of whom give only part of their
time to Solarium work, namely Dr. Telfer and Dr. Marshall, and
this number will be insufficient to cope with the work especially
when the Committee remember that certain forms of electrical
treatment, for instance surgical or pelvic diathermy and medical
electricity, can only be administered under the direct control of
a doctor. With these considerations in mind I, therefore,
suggest that Dr. Telfer be definitely designated as Medical
Officer in charge of the clinical work of the Solarium and that
a suitable increased maximum salary be awarded for this office;
that Dr. Marshall continue to be employed for part of his time
in the Solarium, and that a part-time Medical Officer with experience
in this work be also employed for at least three sessions
per week at a guinea-and-a-half for each session."
After full consideration by the Committee on the 4th January,
1938, these suggestions were adopted.
Considerable care has been taken to see that patients are
not allowed to continue treatment for unduly long periods, and
patients are discharged as soon as they have received the maximum
benefit likely to be derived from treatment. The majority of the
diseases for which patients are sent to the Solarium are, however
chronic in nature and in many cases of old-standing; notwithstanding
this fact however the average length of time for which a
patient attends the Solarium is about twelve weeks. Many of
the patients, particularly those suffering from the various manifestations
of rheumatism and of arthritis, belong to that large
class to be found in every industrial community for the treatment
of whom little or no provision has ever been made. It is not
contended that such patients are cured by a course of treatment,
but that they derive very much benefit from such a course is in my
opinion an undoubted fact. Many of the cases which are of