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37
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY.—The work of the
Tuberculosis Dispensary was continued at the Hammersmith
Hospital under the arrangement made with the
London County Council and the British Post-Graduate
Medical School. Under this arrangement the Dispensary
is housed in a suite of rooms at the Hospital, the British
Post-Graduate Medical School provides the Medical Staff
and the Borough Council the nursing and clerical staff.
Five sessions, at which patients are seen by appointment,
are held each week.
The work carried out at the Dispensary during the year
shows a considerable increase as compared with pre-war
years.
The number of cases notified during the year was 201.
Total attendances numbered 3,924 and 3,528 jahyscial
examinations were made. In 19.38, when the number of
cases notified was 192, the number of attendances at the
Dispensary was 2,799 and examinations 1,806. The
number of X-ray examinations made during 1943 was
1,724 against 275 in 1938 and the number of A.P. refills
given in the same periods was 1,439 and 311.
New Patients.—During the year 1.000 persons attended
for examination for the first time, 468 males and 532
females. Of these 219 were under the age of fifteen and
781 were adults. Of the total 308 were referred to the
clinic by local practitioners for the purpose of consultation
and 106 by the National Service Medical Boards. Three
hundred and thirty-four were "contacts" of persons
suffering from tuberculosis. Of the "contacts" examined
12 were definitely cases of tuberculosis, whilst 322 were
non-tuberculosis.
Total Attendances and Examinations.—The total
attendances of persons for the purpose of examination,
observation or treatment, numbered 3,924, and physical
examinations were carried out in 3,528 instances, i.e., in
90 per cent. of the total attendances.