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APPENDIX.
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY.
ANNUAL REPORT, 1930.
To the Medical Officer of Health.
I beg to submit a report on the work carried out at the
Tuberculosis Dispensary for the year ending 31st December, 1930.
Dr. Mary J. O'Flynn was appointed part-time Tuberculosis Officer
during the year, and commenced her duties on the 1st December,
1930. Otherwise the personnel of the staff remained the same as
for the previous twelve months. The routine work of the Dispensary
has been carried on as in previous years. The Artificial
Light Department which was established at "Southlands" in
November, 1929, was in operation during the whole of 1930, and
the results of treatment are set out below. This form of treatment
is given to patients attending the Tuberculosis Dispensary who are
suffering from Non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis, and to children who
are attending the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics
on the recommendation of the Medical Officers in charge of those
clinics. Treatment by artificial light is not given as an alternative
to institutional treatment in cases of Non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis
but is used in cases where such treatment is not considered essential.
It appears to be particularly useful in cases of lupus and in enlarged
tuberculous glands with discharging sinuses.
The Tuberculosis Dispensary acts as a centre for diagnosis
and a clearing house, and the work is carried out in close co-operation
with the doctors in the area. The majority of the new patients
who attend the Dispensary are sent by their own doctors for an
opinion and advice, and with a view to getting them sent away for a
period of institutional treatment under the London County Council's
Tuberculosis Scheme. On the patient's return from an institution
a full report of his condition on discharge is sent to the doctor,
and in the case of an insured patient who is on domiciliary treatment
a written report is required from the doctor as to the patient's
progress at three monthly intervals. The co-operation of the
family doctor with the Staff of the Tuberculosis Dispensary is of
the first importance if the Tuberculosis Dispensary is to function
satisfactorily. The importance of the early diagnosis of Tuberculosis
both from the point of view of treatment and prevention has
been frequently emphasised and in this connection the co-operation
of the Doctor with the Dispensary Staff is most essential. Every
effort is made to reach a definite diagnosis at as early a date as possible
in the case of new patients who are sent to the Dispensary for
consultation and, as in previous years, doubtful cases of Tuberculosis
are sent to St. Thomas's Hospital for X-ray examination
and for a further opinion. Institutional treatment is provided by
the London County Council on the recommendation of the Tuberculosis
Officers.