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Hurlingham Lodge Hostel.
On 1st April, 1965, the administration of Hurlingham Lodge Hostel became the responsibility
of the Borough. Hurlingham Lodge is a hostel for ambulant homeless infective tuberculoumen,
one of three similar establishments in the former County of London, the others being in the
London Boroughs of Islington and Lambeth.
In common with the other two hostels, Hurlingham Lodge provides accommodation for
tuberculous patients not requiring nursing. The intention is to provide the resident with a sense
of security in having a home with regular good meals, laundry, and sympathetic companionship.
The community derives advantages by segregating, as far as practicable, these infective tuberculous
persons from close and frequent contact with susceptible individuals.
Residents who are fit to work are encouraged to find employment through the Disablement
Resettlement Officer of the local office of the Ministry of Labour. Residents are also encouraged
to be on the list of a local general practitioner who visits the hostel regularly, is available in
the ordinary way, and who is also expected to maintain health surveillance of the staff.
Recommendations for admission are received from Chest Clinics in the London Boroughs,
and from hospitals in and outside London. The Borough in which the patient was formerly resident
is asked to accept financial responsibility, and residents are asked to contribute towards
their maintenance according to their means. Admissions are arranged as and when vacancies
occur.
The condition of patients is reviewed periodically to establish their need for continued
residence.
There is accommodation for 28 at the Hostel, the demand for places is constant, and at
the end of the year there were three men awaiting admission.
Venereal Diseases.
West London Hospital Venereal Diseases Clinic Report.
This Clinic is one of the largest in the country and drains a very wide area around it
including the whole of that served by the London Borough of Hammersmith. It is usually referred
to as Luke Clinic for males and Martha Clinic for females. It is open for daily consultation from
9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays inclusive, and from 9.30 a.m. to 12.00 noon on Saturdays
only. Many patients come of their own accord but if it is desired to refer anybody no appointment
is required. On the other hand, where difficult or delicate circumstances arise, for example in
cases of marital difficulty or if the patients are well known, special appointments may be made
by telephoning Riverside 3441, Ext. 40 for males, or 2 for females; and the Consultant-in-Charge
is always prepared to give advice to any doctor who requires it.
There is a Welfare Officer attached to the Clinic who is available to give advice to
patients who have various social problems arising either from their general circumstances, or
from the particular trouble for which they are attending for advice. Many patients attend the
Department, particularly married women infected by their husbands, who never know that it
caters for venereal diseases though, of course, not exclusively.
A Consultative Clinic in the ordinary Out-patient Department, which will be by direct
appointment only, is contemplated for October 1st 1966. This will be for wives of patients with
non-venereal conditions, such as urethritis; for those for whom a family doctor may wish an
opinion because the patient has a discharge but does not wish to go to the ordinary clinic; and
for relatives of older patients found to be suffering from latent or late syphilis.
Particulars of this Clinic and appointments may be obtained by phoning Riverside 3441
on or after October 1st.
J.L. Fluker, M.A.,M.D.,M.R.C.P.,D.P.H.,
Consultant-in-Charge
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