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introduced, would be quite disastrous and would lead to a numerous increase
in the infection rate and in human suffering.
It should be remembered that syphilis still damages more hearts every
year than are likely to be successfully replaced in 30 years and that the
function of the clinics is preventive as well as curative. Many of the
great advances in medicine over the last 150 years have come from preventive medicine, although many do not like to acknowledge this and if the
country excludes this aspect in this particular specialty, it will do so
at its peril.
J.L.Fluker,
Director & Consultant
Special Clinic.
Hurlingham Lodge Hostel
Hurlingham Lodge is a hostel for ambulant, homeless, infective, tuberculous men, one of three similar establishments in the fomer 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 those who do not require nursing. The intention is to give the
resident a sense of security in having a home with regular good meals, laundry, and sympathetic companionship. The community derives advantages from
segregating, as far as practicable, these infective tuberculous persons
from the dangers of 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 and is available in the ordinary way. He is also expected to maintain health surveillance of the staff.
Recommendations for admission are received from Chest Physicians of
Chest Clinics in the London Boroughs, and from hospitals in and outside
London. The Medical Officer of Health of 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 residents is reviewed periodically to establish the
need for continued residence.
There is accommodation for 28 residents at the Hostel. At the end of
1968 there were two men awaiting admission, and at the end of 1967 there
was one man awaiting admission.
Chiropody Service Annual Report
The Department of Health and Social Security have asked for a review of
progress made in providing a chiropody service to meet the needs of the elderly, the physically handicapped and expectant mothers since 1959 to be
included in this year's Annual Report.
In 1959 the then Ministry of Health issued a circular (11/59) to Local
Health Authorities inviting them to establish or extend a chiropody service
including a domiciliary service giving priority in the early stages to meet
the needs of the elderly, the physically handicapped and expectant mothers,
C. 18