View report page

95
TUBERCULOSIS SCHEMES.
I. The Municipal Tuberculosis Dispensary is situated near the
Elephant and Castle Underground Railway and convenient for all buses
and trams. This central position renders one Dispensary adequate for
the district as it can be reached from all parts without difficulty to the
patients.
II. Arrangements for residential treatment are in the hands of the
London County Council as regards insured and non-insured patients.
Advanced and emergency cases are treated in the Southwark Guardians
Hospital at East Dulwich Grove.
III. There is an arrangement with Guy's Hospital whereby patients
may be sent for X-Ray examination, also with Brompton Hospital for
Finsen Light treatment and Artificial Pneumothorax. There is an
interchange of records between the Tuberculosis Dispensary and the
School Medical Officers
IV. When cases are notified by a practitioner and it is ascertained
that the patient is an insured person, the practitioner is communicated
with and a Form 17 is sent to him to be filled up and returned to the
Tuberculosis Officer. It is then a matter of arrangement between them
after considering the case, whether it should be treated as a domiciliary
case or what would be the most suitable treatment for it. If treated as
a domiciliary case periodic reports are obtained from the medical
attendant, and the treatment revised if necessary.
V. Where the diagnosis is doubtful the patient is either sent to
Brompton Hospital for observation or kept for a limited time under
observation at the Dispensary until the doubt is cleared up.
VI. Contacts are encouraged to visit the Dispensary for examination
and the Nurses attached to the Dispensary visit the homes and arrange
for their attendance.
VII. The special methods of diagnosis used were sputum examination
and X-Ray examination. By arrangement with Guy's Hospital 23
patients were so examined. The methods of treatment were Sanatorium
treatment and Hospital treatment under the London County Council.
156 patients were recommended for Sanatorium.
34 do. do. Hospital.
12 do. do. Home for Advanced Cases.
22 do. do. observation for diagnosis.
VIII. On the whole the Sanatorium treatment has proved of value
as a fairly large proportion of the patients were able to return to work on
discharge.
IX. Dental treatment is arranged for at Guy's Hospital where
extractions are done free, a small fee only being charged for the
anaesthetic, which fee is paid by the Borough Council.
X. Arrangements for nursing of patients in their homes is made