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45
from consumption, as tuberculosis of the lungs is called. There are 30 beds
for males and 20 for females. The benefits to the community which arise
from the special accommodation which the Guardians provide has been
the subject of comment in the annual report for many years. Immediate
admission can be obtained for acute and emergency cases, while patients
who are no longer fit for work and are in an advanced stage of the disease
may receive rest and treatment for an indefinite period, and, at the same
time, are prevented from being a source of infection to their families. In
1923 the City Council suggested to the Guardians that the services of
their Tuberculosis Officer would be available as consultant on cases
of tuberculosis in the hospital. The Guardians readily accepted the
offer, and appointed the Tuberculosis Officer to visit the hospital at
regular intervals and to consult with the Medical Superintendent as to
the diagnosis and treatment of cases in the hospital. The arrangement
has now been in force since May 1923, and has added the link which
was lacking in the Council's tuberculosis scheme—continuity of observation
and treatment. This is the most important development which has
taken place since the scheme was established in 1916. The Tuberculosis
Officer is now enabled to obtain accurate observations of cases difficult
of diagnosis and can pursue his own investigations.
II.—Applies to County Councils.
III.—The tuberculosis dispensary is affiliated by official agreement
with Westminster Hospital. This agreement was entered into when
the dispensary was established in 1916, and has been renewed annually.
Under its terms patients may be referred to the hospital for the purposes
of further diagnosis and special treatment. The number of cases thus
referred is as follows :—
1921 1922 1923 1924 1925
37 37 32 21 16
The majority of patients sent to Westminster Hospital are referred
for the purposes of special treatment of non-pulmonary tuberculosis
(disease of the bones and joints and glandular affections requiring
surgical treatment) and conditions not tuberculous in nature, but which
have been found to require treatment when the patients have been examined
at the dispensary. With regard to " chest" cases an arrangement
has been made with the hospital by which a report by the radiographer
and the film taken are supplied to the Tuberculosis Officer who
may refer patients for the purpose of X-ray examination. The
sum of 12s. 6d. for a report and film is payable to the hospital by the
Council. Two cases were examined in this way at the hospital in 1925.
The co-operation which exists between the Tuberculosis Officer and the
staff of Westminster Hospital has always been of a close and cordial