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scheme by the Council and authorities near London for the diagnosis and treatment
of venereal diseases. Arrangements have been made for free treatment and diagnosis
for in-patients and out-patients at 28 hospitals and for the reception of patients
for treatment at seven hostels. Special provision has been made for the treatment
of pregnant women and very young children. Practitioners secure, at the cost of
the Council, scientific reports on materials from patients suspected to be suffering
from venereal disease, and approved practitioners may obtain, free of cost, salvarsan
or its substitutes. The cost of diagnosis and treatment at hospitals and hostels
is divided between the Council and the participating authorities according to the
user of the facilities available. The Council makes direct payments to hospitals
for salvarsan or its substitutes supplied to medical practitioners in London. Details
of cases treated in this and preceding years are given above.
Publicity
arrangements.
The Council's scheme provides in general terms for lectures and addresses to
selected audiences, and for the publication and dissemination of information. Since
20th March, 1917, a voluntary association—the National Council for Combating
Venereal Diseases—has been permitted for limited periods to exercise on behalf of
the Council certain of its powers relating to propaganda work ; and the purposes
for which the permission was to be operative for the year ending 31st March, 1925,
were determined by the Council on 1st April, 1924. The Council undertakes publicity
work which can most usefullv be directed through official channels.
Venereal
disease.
The Council considered the report of the Committee of Inquiry which was set
up in 1922 to consider and report upon the best medical measures for preventing
venereal disease in the civil community, having regard to administrative practicability,
including cost. The main conclusions arrived at by the Committee coincided
with the policy adopted by the Council in the working of its scheme for the diagnosis
and treatment of venereal diseases in London. The report contained statements
that there were found to be a considerable number of persons suffering from venereal
disease among mental defectives and that the present arrangements for their control
and treatment were inadequate. The Council's experience in regard to the treatment
and supervision of the mentally defective, however, seemed to show that there
was no justification for such wide statements.
Rescue and
preventive
work.
Arising out of the proposals of the National Council of Social Service, a central
council representing public authorities and voluntary agencies concerned in rescue
and preventive work in London has been formed for the co-ordination of rescue
and preventive work among women and girls in London. The Council has four
representatives on the central council.
National
Health
Insurance;
A Royal Commission on National Health Insurance was appointed for the purpose
of reporting what, if any, alterations, extensions, or developments should be made
in regard to the scope of the scheme of national health insurance and the administrative,
financial and medical arrangements set up under it. The Council on 18th
November, 1924, decided to give evidence before the Royal Commission and
expressed the opinion that consideration should be given to the questions whether:—
(i.) Grants should be made from national health insurance funds in aid
of approved work centres at which post-sanitoria cases could be employed
under the medical supervision of the tuberculosis officer ;
(ii.) The statory maximum period of sickness benefit should be extended
in the case of tuberculous persons ;
(iii.) Allowances should be made from insurance funds to tuberculous
insured persons capable of part-time, but incapable of whole-time, work ; and
(iv.) The surpluses available under the National Health Insurance Act for
"additional benefits" should be utilised, at the discretion of the approved
societies, in part for certain benefits in kind, financial aid, etc., on a similar
basis to the provision made for ex-service men by the British Red Cross and
United Services Fund.
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