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70
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan
Borough of Stoke Newington.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to submit the report for the year 1934. In my report of
last year, I endeavoured to show how this Dispensary met its
obligations in carrying out the functions of acting as a consulting
centre, of arranging for treatment of patients at home or in institutions,
of supervising home conditions and examining contacts,
and of disseminating information with regard to the prevention
of tuberculosis.
During 1934 the work has continued on similar lines, and it
has not been found necessary to introduce any innovations. At
one time it seemed possible that a re-arrangement of the hours of
the evening sessions might be advisable, but it was found after
questioning the patients that the times in operation were suitable
for the vast majority, and it was therefore decided to make no
change. To meet the difficulty of the few who cannot come during
the regular hours, special appointments have been made, but I feel
that these should be restricted to the smallest possible number
in order that necessary routine duties may not be interrupted.
I have again to record the attendance of an unusually high
number of new cases, but as before, these have been sent up mainly
for investigation, and 72 -44 per cent, have been found not to be
suffering from active tuberculosis. This high proportion of negative
cases I feel to be a gratifying indication of the use made of the
department for consultative purposes. The character of the work
shows little change except in one direction—namely, that movements
of residents into and out of the area are becoming more free,
and for this reason more cases notified in other boroughs attend
here for continuation of treatment or observation begun elsewhere.
In order that supervision of a floating population of this type may
be continuous, records of each patient are interchanged between the
respective Tuberculosis Officers concerned, on the lines laid down
by the Ministry of Health. During the past two or three years, and
especially in 1934, new blocks of flats have been erected in Hackney