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centres, are shown in Table 15 on page 79. The figures for this year are low
because of inability to obtain Mantoux test material occasioned by the postal strike
early in the year.
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 CLINICS
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
provided from the Chest Clinics include social work by welfare officers and assistance
in cash or kind not available from official sources by chest clinic committees from
their voluntary funds; these services became the responsibi 1 ity of the Social Services
Department of the Council on 1st April.
The Poplar Chest Clinic at Wellington Way closed on 31st December 1971, its
activities transferring to the London Chest Hospital, Victoria Park. The Stepney
Chest Clinic is likewise to close on 31st March 1972 which will complete the centralisation
by the North-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board of the Chest Clinic
services of the Borough at the London Chest Hospital.
After Care
Other services provided by the department for the care and after care of patients
and contacts include - boarding-out of child contacts, home nursing, loan of
bedding and nursing equipment rehousing of selected tuberculous families,
Chest Diseases Care Committees
Three Chest diseases care committees continued to operate in the borough in 1971
and I append the reports of the consultant chest physicians on the work of two of the
committees and clinics during the year,
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