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The policy of sending patients to the various tuberculosis colonies, such as
Papworth Village Settlement, Cambridge, and Preston Hall, Maidstone, for treatment
and rehabilitation, has continued during the year. The patients are specially
selected, and eventually, if suitable, offered full-time employment and settlement in
the Colonies.
Mass miniature X-ray examination of sections of the general public continued
throughout the year, and the unit continued to work at static centres, as, owing to
the lack of mobility of the apparatus through the non-delivery of a special motor-van
equipped with a generator and dark-room, it was not possible to visit various factories,
industrial establishments, etc., to carry out examinations on the spot. Examinations
were carried out at the following centres: Jewish Boys' Club, Hackney; St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, E.C.1; Hospital for Women, Soho Square; and St. Luke's
Hospital, Chelsea.
Miniature
mass
radiography
The borough medical officers, together with the tuberculosis officers, are
responsible for selecting the groups of persons for examination in the respective areas.
They arrange for employers to be visited, explain to the management the meaning of
mass radiography, stress the voluntary nature of the proceedings and particularly
emphasise that results are confidential and not divulged to anyone, whether employers
or medical officers, without the prior consent of the individuals concerned.
This procedure is regarded as essential to the success of the scheme, and it is also
emphasised that the examination is primarily for the benefit of the employee.
Particulars giving details of groups of persons for examination are forwarded by
the borough medical officers to the County Hall, where all arrangements for booking
of appointments are made. At each of the centres, factory, shop and office employees,
and school children (fifteen years of age and over), were examined.
The medical director is responsible for the reading of the miniature films, the
full-sized films being interpreted by a consultative panel, comprising the consulting
radiologist to the Council's hospitals, a general physician, the senior medical officer on
the central staff in charge of tuberculosis work and the medical director. Tuberculosis
officers and other experts are invited to participate in the panel's weekly discussions.