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32
The total number of new patients in attendance during the six months ended
31st December, 1930, was 1,527 of whom 522 were not diagnosed as suffering from
venereal disease. The number of attendances was 76,183, compared with 36,802
for the first half of the year before the clinic was maintained by the Council. Of the
new patients 75.5 per cent, of the male and 63 per cent, of the female venereal cases
were infections of less than one year's standing.
When the Council assumed control the adaptation and equipment of the premises
had not been completed, and considerable alterations had to be effected, including
the provision of a laboratory for the pathological work. The total number of pathological
examinations for the six months was 15,650, of which 8,192 were blood tests.
For the convenience of private practitioners, arrangements were made for results of
certain tests to be communicated by telephone within three hours of the delivery
of specimens.
Facilities for the study of venereal diseases are available for medical students
and post-graduates, demonstrations being given every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to
4 p.m. The average number of students attending the weekly demonstrations during
the last three months of the year was 21.
On 31st December, 1930, the staff of the clinic was as follows :—
One director, 2 senior and 2 junior medical officers, 2 clinical assistants, 1 pathologist,
1 sister, 3 nurses, 5 male attendants, 2 male and 2 female clerks, and 1 male
and 1 female cleaner.
The rapid and continued growth of the work has necessitated provision for the
appointment of additional medical and nursing staff.
The graph on page 31 shows the weekly attendances of patients both before and
after the 1st July, 1930, when the clinic was taken over by the Council. The figures
for the separate attendances made by male and female patients are not available for
the first half of the year.
The Council's Anti-Tuberculosis Scheme.
Residential
treatment.
Residential treatment under the Council's tuberculosis scheme is provided for all
tuberculous persons (adults and children) ordinarily resident in the County of London
recommended by a public authority except those recommended for treatment
under the Poor Law. The operation of the Local Government Act, 1929, transferred
to the Council the responsibility of dealing with tuberculous persons formerly provided
with residential treatment by boards of guardians. These were accommodated partly
in the infirmaries, now organised by the Council as "general hospitals," and partly
in voluntary institutions in the country. Those suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis
in poor law infirmaries were accommodated in special wards and it is estimated
that on an average about 1,250 beds were occupied. Those suffering from nonpulmonary
tuberculosis were placed in the general surgical wards and a number of
beds varying from 120 to 150 was devoted to this purpose. From the information
available to the Council it would appear that on the average about 275 beds in voluntary
institutions in the country were taken for their own cases by the various boards
of guardians.
Broadly speaking, patients who are likely to improve materially from residential
treatment are dealt with under the Council's tuberculosis scheme, and those suffering
from chronic disease without prospect of definite improvement and also patients
acutely ill are accommodated in the Council's general hospitals. The first mentioned,
if able to be up for eight or more hours a day are transferred to voluntary institutions
outside London where grounds are available for their use. Among the advantages of
the transfer of the poor law accommodation to the Council may be mentioned the
additional facilities now available enabling the Council to distribute patients more