London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Chelsea 1930

Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chelsea, 1930

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84
Chelsea Tuberculosis Dispensary.—This Dispensary, located at
Brompton Hospital, provides highly efficient treatment for all cases
resident in the Borough. An annual grant is paid to the Hospital by
the Borough Council to provide for all necessary medical, nursing and
other services. Table No. 55 summarises, for the past five years, the
number of persons examined at the Dispensary for the first time, the
percentage of these cases in which definite tuberculosis was found,
and the total attendances at the Dispensary.

TABLE No. 55. Work done at the Dispensary.

Year.Number of Persons examined for the first time.Definite Tuberculosis.Total attendances at Dispensary.
192632813 per cent.3,434
19275459 ,,3,307
19284477 ,,2,834
192950710 ,,3,369
193050113 ,,3,089

Institutional Treatment.—The London County Council is mainly
responsible for the institutional treatment of Tuberculosis in London.
The London County Council maintains St. George's Home, in Milmans
Street, Chelsea, as a hospital for advanced pulmonary disease in women.
There is accommodation for 50 cases, which are drawn from all parts of
the metropolis. The majority of advanced cases of pulmonary tuberculosis
in Chelsea are isolated and treated in St. Luke's Hospital under
the Public Assistance Committee, while a smaller proportion receive
treatment in other public institutions. Of the cases which terminated
fatally during the year, 43 per cent, died in St. Luke's Hospital and
81 per cent, in other public institutions, that is to say 74 per cent. died
away from their homes, the corresponding figure for 1929 being 87
per cent.
Co-operation with Hospitals and Invalid Childrens' Aid
Association.—Existing arrangements with general and special hospitals
in the neighbourhood continue to give satisfaction. Cases under
treatment at St. George's Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital are visited
by the Municipal Tuberculosis Visitor. Arrangements are made with
Brompton Hospital for the X-ray examination of difficult cases, and
for the provision of artificial pneumo-thorax refills. Many patients,
both adults and children, who attend the Dispensary for examination,
either as contacts or on their own initiative, are found to be suffering
from conditions, other than Tuberculosis, which require treatment.
These cases are advised as to obtaining such treatment, either from
private practitioners or at general hospitals. Many children are found