Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
115
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY.
Nine consultations are held in each week—two in the morning, five in the afternoon,
and two in the evening.
The premises provided by the Borough Council for use as a Tuberculosis Dispensary
were opened in February, 1932. They are situated on the entrance floor of Barnes
House, 9-15, Camden Road, and comprise a waiting room, two consulting rooms, laboratory
rooms for the nurse, health visitors, and clerical assistant, dressing rooms for the patients,
and the necessary sanitary accommodation.
The X-ray work which is necessary in connection with patients suffering or suspected
to be suffering from Tuberculosis is carried out at the University College Hospital.
Tuberculosis.
It was decided during the year that the Tuberculosis Officer of the Borough Council
should act as Honorary Consultant for Tuberculosis at the general hospitals of the London
County Council in the Borough—the matter to be subject to revision at the end of the year.
Sanocrysin Treatment.
Arising out of a communication from the Secretary of Brompton Hospital in 1933,
it was decided by the Borough Council, with the concurrence of the London County Council,
that financial responsibility should be accepted for the treatment by Sanocrysin of patients
attending the hospital for artificial pneumothorax refills.
The cases are to be approved by the Medical Officer of Health and the Tuberculosis
Officer, and the Council's liability is limited to a sum of three shillings for each injection.
Artificial Light Treatment.
Provision as part of Tuberculosis Dispensary Service.
There is an arrangement for the treatment of lupus by Finsen lamp at the London
Hospital on the basis of 5s. an attendance.
Report on the Work carried out at the Tuberculosis Dispensary.
The following report on the work of the Dispensary has been furnished by the
Tuberculosis Officer, Dr. Back:—
The total number of new patients dealt with at the Dispensary during 1934 shows
an increase from the previous year of about 34 per cent. This increase is almost entirely
due to the larger number of contacts who attended, the figure being nearly 50 per cent.
greater than any previously recorded at this Dispensary, although since 1926, when the
records were begun, the number of notifications—and consequently the number of
available contacts—has fallen by 25 per cent. No contacts were found to be suffering
from tuberculosis, but it is satisfactory to know that approximately 44 per cent. of the
contacts of all cases of tuberculosis discovered during the year have been examined and
have been given advice which should enable them to obtain early treatment if it becomes
necessary later. It is also encouraging to find that the contact cards and letters,
mentioned in last year's report, and the efforts of the Health Visitors have had such a
marked effect on the attendances.