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53
treatment of tuberculosis, the Ministry of Health, on 3rd December, 1920,
requested the Borough Council to reconsider its dispensary soheme, and
to submit a revised scheme to the London County Council and to the
Ministry of Health at the earliest possible date in order that it might
come into operation on May 1st, 1921.
The scheme in operation at that time needed less amendment than
those in force in some other districts, as the Tuberculosis Dispensary
in Hampstead is entirely a Municipal Dispensary. It was inaugurated
in connection with the Borough Memorial to the late King
Edward VII, although grants in aid are received from the Ministry
of Health, the London County Council and the London County
Insurance Committee. In this Borough, the work of the Dispensary
had from its inception been co-ordinated with the prevention work of
the Public Health Department. Amongst the alterations outlined by
the Ministry, it was suggested that the arrangements between the
Borough Council and the London County Insurance Committee and
the Hospital with which the Dispenary was linked up (i.e. the Hampstead
General Hospital) should be extended only until the 30th April,
1921. After careful consideration the Borough Council adopted an
Amended Scheme for the Dispensary Treatment of Tuberculosis.
This Scheme came into operation on 1st May, and it would appear
from the years' working under it, that ample provision is made for the
needs of the Borough.
It must always be remembered too, that the efforts of the Borough
Council in the crusade against Tuberculosis are not limited to the work
of the Dispensary, or to patients attending the Dispensary. Many cases
in a Borough such as Hampstead do not come within the scope of a
Municipal Dispensary: they are in fairly good conditions under their
own medical advisers, and they have no need to avail themselves of the
facilities and aids offered by the Dispensary. In all these cases, nevertheless,
though they do not come within the orbit of the Dispensary, a visit
is made and the homes inspected by Officers of the Public Health Department;
the medical attendant is interviewed where necessary in order to
secure the examination of "contacts," etc., and to be educated as to the
facilities we give to medical practitioners in making diagnosis and conducting
treatment. Again I always like to think that the whole work of
the Public Health Department is directed against tuberculosis. I cannot