View report page

72
The Boroughs of Hackney and Stoke Newington, with the
sanction of the Ministry of Health, allot a sum of money for the
provision of extra nourishment to patients whose medical condition
and financial status render them eligible. There is, in my opinion,
ample evidence that this money is well spent, and the benefit derived
by the recipients testifies to its need at the present time.
During the year full advantage has been taken of opportunities
for consultation with members of the staff of the Metropolitan
Hospital, to whom 67 cases were referred. Dr. Loughborough
examined 42 of these in the X-Ray Department, and Mr. Cawthorne
8 in the Throat Department, and I wish to express my gratitude to
them and to the Physicians and Surgeons of the Hospital for their
unfailing courtesy in seeing Dispensary patients.
The Hospital Secretary, Mr. H. F. Rutherford, has as ever been
most sympathetic and helpful; and I have also to thank the Matron
for her care and consideration in the provision of the nursing staff.
The nurses assisting in the Dispensary have without exception
shown them-selves energetic and thoroughly efficient, and have
contributed substantially to the smooth running of the Department.
The clerical and statistical work is extremely complicated, and
the Ministry of Health have been approached through the Society
of Medical Officers of Health with a view to rendering the required
returns less intricate. As a result, the forms previously in use
have been somewhat modified by the Ministry, but the labour involved
in their completion is still very considerable. Miss Russell
has continued to act as Secretary-dispenser, and I cannot speak too
highly of the way in which she has carried out her duties, or of the
valuable assistance she has at all times given to me. We were very
fortunate in that Miss Fellowes again found herself able to act as
locum tenens during Miss Russell's holiday, and it was a pleasure to
the staff and patients to have her with us.
The Dispensary is greatly indebted to the Chief Administrative
Officers, Dr. G. H. Dart, Medical Officer of Health for Hackney, and
Dr. F. D. Ross-Keyt, Medical Officer of Health for Stoke Newington,