View report page

115
is not rushed, and I can devote more time to individual patients,
to the selection of patients suitable for Artificial Pneumothorax
treatment, the supervision of treatment, and the examination of
suspected cases in other wards of the Hospital.
Bethnal Green and Hackney Hospitals admit most of our
advanced patients, and until recently we have always been able
to secure immediate admission for an urgent case. During the
last year, however, we have frequently experienced difficulty in
this direction. This is due to the shortage of beds for advanced
patients, and unless the matter is tackled soon, the position may
become really serious.
The Borough Councils as before, supply milk and eggs to
tuberculosis patients not in receipt of relief and whose financial
circumstances warrant it, while the Public Assistance Committee
gives a grant for this purpose to those under their care. Previously
Public Assistance Committees were rather frugal in their recommendations,
but recently there has been a change in the attitude
of the London County Council in this matter. They now wish
to ensure that, where necessary, every tuberculosis patient should
receive extra nourishment. Since all recommendations for the
grant must be approved by the Tuberculosis Officer, the attendance
of the patient at the Dispensary at regular intervals is ensured
which is of material assistance to us in the supervision of these
cases.
I submit at the end of the report a statistical summary of the
work 01 the department for the year. The figures usually show
little variation from year to year, but during 1937 it will be noted
that there has been an increase of 194 in the total number of
new cases, due to the rise in the contact figures for Bethnal
Green.
I would point out that the tables showing the results of the
contact examinations do not give a true indication of the percentage
of positive contacts, as the Ministry of Health has laid down that
only those who attend the department as the result of the tuberculosis
scheme are to be included in the returns. Those who are
sent by doctors and who attend voluntarily are not to be entered
as contacts, notwithstanding the fact that they may at the
moment be living with an infectious case of tuberculosis.
428 cases were referred for opinion of the Tuberculosis Officer
by the general practitioners. Here again I would point out that
this figure only partially represents the number of cases sent by
doctors during the year, as only those who had not previously
attended the department are recorded. Our relations with the
local practitioners are still of the most cordial nature, with an
entire absence of petty annoyances and misunderstandings, and
I think we may infer from the use they make of the department
that they find it of value for the purpose of consultation.