View report page

94
Re Item 13. The number of sputum examinations continued to
increase, being 266 more than in 1925, and 514 more than in 1923.
In the 1,179 ate included specimens sent by practitioners in the Borough
from persons who may not have attended at Dispensary.
Re Item 16 (a) This form for insured persons, to be used by the
panel doctor when referring to the Tuberculosis Officer a person whom
he has already diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis, gives some
details about the patient, but is seldom used.
16 (6) At the beginning of the year a card register of doctors with
the patients on their panels was made up as accurately as possible from
the case papers, and the doctors were asked if the lists were correct and
if the persons were on regular domiciliary treatment. Those patients
not attending the doctor for regular treatment are considered on
"supervision" only.
For each patient on domiciliary treatment the panel doctor is
expected to furnish a report every three months to the Tuberculosis
Officer. If this is not received the Tuberculosis Officer is to send the
doctor a form with the patient's name and address, asking for a report.
If it is still not received the Tuberculosis Officer is to report the matter
to the Regional Medical Officer. In the case of one practitioner a
warning that this would have to be done was necessary before any
reports were received. If a patient who is on domiciliary treatment
comes for supervision to the Dispensary every three months or thereabouts,
though strictly this does not release the practitioner from his
responsibility in the matter, it is not the custom to ask him for a report.
In 1925, only 13 reports were received, in 1926, 98 were received.
Co-operation with practitioners by the use of Z cards as explained
in last year's report is continued, 64 Zl, 74 Z2, 34 Z3 and 33 Z4 cards
were sent during 1926. In addition, 200 letters were written to doctors
about cases, 44 to hospital authorities, 27 to the County Medical Officer,
to whom also were sent 300 Form C IV, progress reports about patients
who had had institutional treatment through the County Council
arrangements.
175 reports were made to the Ministry of Pensions re Tuberculous
ex-service men.
150 school contacts were referred on S.M.O. 333 cards to the School
Medical Officer. 68 of these were children who had been examined
at the Dispensary.