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103
When this resolution was submitted to the Public Health Committee
they were informed that the making of acute rheumatism a notifiable
disease would serve no useful purpose unless adequate provision was made
for treatment. This would include not only hospital treatment for acute
cases but prolonged medical supervision in a special institution, where
educational facilities would also be provided.
Any scheme for the control, treatment and supervision of these cases
would require a special clinic, such as a rheumatism supervisory centre,
and this should be established at a general or children's hospital with one
of the Consulting Physicians of the hospital in charge of the scheme.
In addition, the investigation of cases notified would involve extra duties
and would necessitate special arrangements being made.
It was suggested to the Committee that if a Rheumatism Supervisory
Centre could be established at one of the larger general hospitals with a
sufficient number of beds to supply the needs of several neighbouring
boroughs, and in connection with which a body such as the London County
Council or Metropolitan Asylums Board would establish a convalescent
hospital with educational facilities, it might be possible to co-operate with
adjoining boroughs in such a scheme. The Committee were reminded
that rheumatism in children is mainly a disease of school age, namely,
5 to 12 years, and as the Education Authorities had made arrangements
with the Metropolitan Asylums Board for affording facilities for treatment
of these cases the Committee were assured that they were not being
neglected.
After consideration the Council, on the recommendation of the Public
Health Committee, informed the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint
Committee that present circumstances rendered the time inopportune
for making Acute Rheumatism in children under 16 years of age a notifiable
disease. If a Rheumatism Supervisory Centre could be established at one
of the larger General Hospitals with a sufficient number of beds to supply
the needs of several neighbouring Boroughs, and in connection with which
a body such as the London County Council or Metropolitan Asylums
Board would establish a convalescent Hospital with educational facilities
it might be possible to co-operate with adjoining Boroughs in such
a Scheme.