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34
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY.—Reference was
made in the Annual Report for 1940 to the destruction by
enemy action of the dispensary at Ravenscourt Park and
to the establishment by the Council, with the co-operation
of the London County Council, of a clinic in a suite of
rooms at Hammersmith Hospital at Ducane Road.
In April, 1942, the Council's Tuberculosis Officer was
called for service with H.M. Forces, and arrangements were
made with the British Post-Graduate Medical School (which
is also housed in the Hammersmith Hospital) for a member
of the School's staff to act as clinician at the Dispensary.
An agreement has since been entered into between the
Council and the School by which the School will provide the
services of a doctor who will act as Tuberculosis Officer,
and they will also supply any necessary clinical assistance.
The Council will as before provide nursing and clerical
staff.
Five sessions are held each week at the clinic at which
patients are seen by appointment.
New Patients.—During the year 518 persons attended
for examination for the first time, 241 males and 277
females. Of these 113 were under the age of fifteen and
405 were adults. Of the total 245 were referred to the
clinic by local practitioners for the purpose of consultation
and 93 by the National Service Medical Boards. One
hundred and eighty were "contacts" of persons suffering
from tuberculosis. Of the "contacts" examined 22 were
definitely cases of tuberculosis, whilst 158 were nontuberculous.
Total Attendances and Examinations.—The total
attendances of persons for the purpose of examination,
observation or treatment, numbered 3,394, and physical
examinations were carried out in 3,265 instances, i.e., in
96 per cent. of the total attendances.