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96
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY
REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1926.
By H. Tylford Howell, M.R.C.S., Eng., L.R.C.P., Lond.,
Clinical Tuberculosis Officer.
For six years there had been no change in the personnel of the Dispensary,
but last year we lost the services of two valuable members of the staff.
Nurse Hill died after a prolonged illness, while Dr. Hamilton obtained the
post of Senior Tuberculosis Officer to the Borough of Fulham. They were
extremely popular and capable officers and gave of their best, and will be
greatly missed both by the patients and their colleagues.
Dr. G. H. C. Toussaint, late House Physician at the Brompton Hospital
and Assistant Tuberculosis Officer for the Borough of Bermondsey, was
appointed Assistant Tuberculosis Officer, and took up his duties in October.
Miss H. Turner, late Tuberculosis Nurse to the Borough of Fulham and
Sister at the Royal National Hospital for Consumption, Ventnor, was
appointed in the place of Nurse Hill, from January 1, 1927.
There has been no radical change in the routine of the Dispensary, and
the sessions have remained the same. Patients are seen on Monday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings from 10 to 12 o'clock;
Wednesday evenings from 5.30 to 7 o'clock; and on Thursday evenings from
7.30 to 9 o'clock. Saturday mornings are reserved mainly for school
children and such adults as find it difficult to attend at other times, while
the evening sessions are intended for patients who are at work during the
day.
The accommodation of the department in respect of offices, laboratory,
and other facilities is very satisfactory, while the two consulting-rooms are
most convenient. The fact that two dressing-rooms are attached to each
consulting-room not only enables the medical officers to get through their
work more rapidly, but adds considerably to the comfort of the patients and
also ensures privacy, as even on busy days it is never necessary for a
patient, unless of the same family, to undress in the presence of others. It
also enables men and women to be seen in their turn in the order of their
arrival at the Dispensary and so reduces the period of waiting to a minimum,
while it obviates the necessity of separate sessions for different sexes.
The practice of the two medical officers consulting one another on most
new cases and afterwards discussing the special features and points of
difficulty is being continued. This procedure, although not generally
adopted, is, I am convinced, a sound one, and beneficial not only to the
patient but also to the medical officer, as it adds to the keenness of the
latter and broadens his views, while the patient obtains the benefit of a
double opinion. Moreover, should occasion arise for one tuberculosis officer
to take over entire charge of the department for a time, it is possible for him
to do so without the patients suffering in any way, as he is acquainted with
every case.
We continue to utilize in every way the resources of the special
departments of the Hospital. This arrangement enables us to investigate
a ease thoroughly on the spot without loss of time, while in addition we
have the advantage of a personal interview with the consultant concerned.