View report page

B.C.G. vaccination of susceptible (tuberculin negative) child contacts of known tuberculous
patients, diabetic children, thirteen-year old school children, students at further educationestablishments
and mentally subnormal persons at training centres, are shown in Table 15 on
page 94
Other Preventive Measures
In addition to the B.C.G. vaccination scheme, other preventive measures include the chest
X-ray of all newly appointed staff and a triennial X-ray of those who are likely to work in
close and frequent contact with children, staff at the Council's training centres for mentally
subnormal persons and tuberculin reactors discovered among thirteen-year old schoolchildren,
students and others tested with a view to B.C.G. vaccination.
Epidemiological investigations are made among the contacts of cases of tuberculosis
notified in children, staff or residents in the Council's establishments. Similar investigations
are carried out at secondary schools where the reactor rates disclosed by tuberculin surveys
are significantly higher than the average for secondary schools in the area.
Chest CIinics
In conjunction with the North-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board and the Brompton
Hospital, and in accordance with proposals under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act
1946, tuberculosis prevention, care and after-care services for patients living at home are
provided at three chest clinics in the borough staffed by chest physicians, tuberculosis
visitors, welfare officers and clerks.
Services include:-
i) B.C.G. vaccination of persons who have been in contact with tuberculous patients;
ii) Home visiting by health visitors;
iii) Social work by welfare officers;
iv) Assistance in cash or kind not available from official sources by chest clinic
voluntary committees from their voluntary funds. The Welfare Officers act
as secretaries to these voluntary committees;
v) Boarding-out of child tuberculous contacts;
vi) Home nursing including the loan of bedding and nursing equipment;
vii) Home helps;
viii) Extra nourishment;
ix) Rehousing of selected tuberculous families;
x) Recuperative holidays;
xi) Maintenance during industrial rehabilitation at voluntary village settlements;
xii) Admission to hostels for homeless tuberculous men.
Statistics relating to these services are on page 93
Chest Diseases Care Committees
Three such committees operate in the borough and I append the reports of the consultant
-20-