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59
The Dispensary treatment of school children is carried on in
close co-operation with the School Medical Service, and the Springwell
House Open Air School on Clapham Common North Side, has,
in this connection, carried on useful work during the year, particulars
of which will be found in the report of the Tuberculosis
Medical Officer on p. 117.
The Tuberculosis Care Committee, the constitution of which
will be found on p. 2, met weekly at the Tuberculosis Dispensary
during the year, and details of the work of the Committee will be
found set out on pp. 118 to 120.
Dental facilities for tuberculosis patients were first provided by
the Council in 1922. A weekly session is held at the Dental Centre,
Southlands, and patients requiring treatment or the provision of
dentures are referred to the Clinic by the Tuberculosis Medical
Officer. The number of sessions held during 1931 was 50, and 266
attendances were made, the average attendance per session being
5.32. The cost to the Council during the financial year 1931-32
for this service was £141 5s. 0d, less contributions from patients
and other sources amounting to £21 10s. 0d. Full details of the
work carried out are given in the report on the work of the Dispensary
in the Appendix (p. 117).
Institutional treatment is provided by the London County
Council for Battersea patients, this form of treatment being
arranged for in the majority of cases through the Tuberculosis
Dispensary.
The principal work carried out at the Dispensary during 1931
is summarised as follows :—
Patients and Attendances.
The number of new patients was 585 (407 adults, 178 children),
and the number of contacts examined 209 (72 adults, 137 children).
There were 18 patients (adults) transferred from other areas during
the year who subsequently attended the Dispensary, making a
total of 812 new patients and contacts.
Of these 603 new patients 187 were found tuberculous, and 1
new case was discovered amongst the 209 contacts examined.
The total number of attendances at the Dispensary during the
year was 3,917, as compared with 3,621 in 1930.
Visits to the homes of dispensary patients were made by the
Tuberculosis Officer in 204 instances, and 4,175 visits were made
by the Dispensary Nursing Staff. The number of deaths of dispensary
patients was 117 as compared with 96 in 1930. Sixteen of the
patients were discharged as "recovered" or "diagnosis not confirmed"
during the year, and 19 others ceased to attend, in addition
to 57 patients removed to other districts.