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in view of the pressure of hospital work. This session is held on Thursday mornings,
and it means that workers who are unable to get time off from their employment
must be referred to a voluntary hospital for treatment.
Facilities for Artificial Pneumothorax treatment within the Tuberculosis
Dispensary would permit of as many sessions as are necessary and the same ideal
applies for X-ray treatment, namely, that all the necessary apparatus should be
available for use" in one building and under one control.
The essential accommodation for a model dispensary should include :—
A waiting room for patients.
Two consulting and examination rooms (one for each Tuberculosis
Officer).
A changing room for patients—equipped with dressing cubicles,
lavatory accommodation for patients, with separate W.C.'s for men and
women.
Private interviewing room, particularly for new patients.
An X-ray room.
A dark room.
A store room.
A treatment room for artificial pneumothorax refills.
A medical dispensary.
A handicraft room.
A nurses room.
Office accommodation for clerical staff including an interviewing
room for use of Care Committee Secretary.
It is advisable that all rooms into which patients are taken for examination
or treatment should be on the ground floor of the building in order to avoid
climbing stairs by partly incapacitated sufferers. I see no reason, however, why
the handicraft room should not be accommodated below ground level. The
dispensary accommodation should be bright, airy and have a southerly aspect
with the examination rooms situated away from noise, preferably at the back of
the building and overlooking the open space.
The apparatus required and the approximate cost of its provision is estimated
to be as follows :—
X-ray plant for radiography ... ... ... ... ... £800
X-ray screening apparatus for use in Artificial Pneumothorax
room ... ... ... ... ... ... ... £200
Dark room ... ... ... ... ... ... ... £100
Surgical apparatus, etc ... ... ... ... ... ... £100
Store room—films and photographic chemicals ... ... £150
Staff requirements. This matter has been carefully considered by the
Tuberculosis Officer and myself and in the event of the adoption of the proposals
outlined I suggest that it will be necessary to appoint an additional Class I female
clerk, and should the number of Artificial Pneumothorax refills given continue to
grow as at present, the Council may be required to appoint a Medical Officer with
Artificial Pneumothorax refill experience for duty at one A.P. session per week.
Electro Medical Department.
The establishment of an electro medical department suitably equipped to
provide electrical, sunlight and heat treatment, together with facilties for massage
and remedial exercises should be contemplated in the Health Centre scheme for