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59
regarding the social condition of the patient is of value to myself, whilst
on the other hand I am able to help them as regards the probable course
and present condition of the patient.
They have been most helpful in investigating and helping cases in
which I have asked their assistance, and it is with pleasure that I
express my appreciation of their aid.
From the ideal point of view a Tuberculosis Dispensary should only
receive cases suspected before their attendance of being tubercular, and
referred from Doctors, Hospitals, or elsewhere.
Practically, a large number of non-tuberculous patients present
themselves, either they have no doctor, cannot afford one, or have been
recommended by friends, and do not appreciate the specific character of
the Department but regard it in the usual sense of Dispensary.
A certain number of these cases are acute and require immediate
admission to hospital; I have admitted in this way several cases to the
Hampstead General Hospital and City of London Hospital for Chest
Disease, with which I am in touch; the other cases are either
referred to the local practitioner, or if they cannot afford this I have
seen them at the Out-Patient Department of the Hampstead Hospital.
Attention of the Department was called by the London County
Council to the fact that too much money was being expended on the drug
account; in compliance with this instruction I have materially reduced
the drugs and oil and malt given, I estimate that the drug account for
the current financial year will be well under half of the previous year.
Partly this is due to decreasing prices, but mainly to extreme care in
supplying medicines, &c., but it has to be remembered that the regular
attendance of patients is much more difficult to ensure if they are
receiving no medicine.
During the past year 153 cases have been admitted to Sanatorium,
Hospitals, &c., through the London County Council and other sources
as against 118 in the preceding 12 months, and we have been very
fortunate in this respect, it is to be feared that economy propaganda
and reduced grant for Sanatoria benefit must result in fewer cases
getting accepted in the coming year, and as mentioned above this
reduction must be at the expense of the more advanced cases.
The statistical tables explain in detail the work carried out at your
dispensary during the year.