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Non-attendance at Tuberculosis Dispensary.
Thirty-five of the 89 cases attended the Holbom Tuberculosis Dispensary.
The following indicates the reasons for non-attendance in the remaining
cases: —
Removed to Hospitals, etc., for treatment without prior
attendance at Dispensary 15
Dead before notification or died before attendance at
Dispensary 17
Treatment at home by private doctor 3
Not traced and common lodging house cases 5
Removed from Borough 11
No information 3
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Delayed Notification.
The Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1930, requires notification
within 48 hours of the medical practitioner first becoming aware that the person is
suffering from tuberculosis. It is still found that medical practitioners do not
notify cases of this disease until tubercle bacilli have been found in the sputum
and in a number of cases notifications are not received until the death of the
patient or shortly before death takes place. In the past year nine cases were
notified only at death, four within one month of death, and two within three
months of death.
It is unfortunate that these Regulations continue the proviso in the Regulations of
1012 by which a medioal practitioner is not required to notify a case of tuberculosis if he
has reasonable grounds for believing that the case has already been notified. It would seem
that any disadvantage accruing from duplication would be easily outweighed by the
advantage of the additional encouragement to promote early notification which would ensue
from the withdrawal of this proviso from the Regulations.
Institutional Treatment.
During the year notifications were received of 108 admissions to institutions.
These admissions represent 71 patients, some of whom are transferred from one
institution to another, and others are discharged, or take their own discharge,
and subsequently are re-admitted.
The admissions were to the following institutions: —
Institutions of the London County Council 82
Other institutions 26
Visits to Homes, etc.
During 1934 the Tuberculosis Officer made 70 visits to the homes of patients.
The general visitation of the patients and supervision of home conditions is carried
out by the Tuberculosis Nurse who made 1,207 visits.
The advice given by the Tuberculosis Nurse includes suggestions respecting
food and cooking and suitable cookery books are supplied free of charge.
Contacts.
All contacts are invited to attend for examination at the Tuberculosis
Dispensary.