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number of primary notifications, which in its turn is partly the result of the
increasing tendency on the part of the practitioner to send patients to the
dispensary for an opinion before notifying. Also, in the case of Bethnal Green,
no patients are now notified from Bethnal Green Hospital until they have been
seen by the Tuberculosis Officer.
It is always difficult to limit the number of patients who wish to receive
treatment at the dispensary, but it will be seen by the slight fall in attendances
that an attempt has been made in this direction. Insured patients are sent to
their panel doctors, while school children who only require periodic observation
are referred to the School Medical Department.
Our relation with the local practitioners is still of the most cordial nature,
and I think we might infer from the increase in the number of cases sent by them
that the department continues to serve a useful purpose as a consulting centre.
The ligures given below are not a true indication of the number of patients
referred to the department by the local practitioners, as old cases previously
recorded as non-tubercular are frequently sent for re-investigation after a lapse
of time often amounting to several years, and such cases are not shown in the
statistical summary.
In conclusion, I should like to thank 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 Dispensary Staff for their efficient
work and loyal support.
(Signed) H. TYLFORD HOWELL.
16th February, 1925.
F