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80
from those vaccinated with B.C.G.) throughout the county preferably in association
with chest X-ray examination of the positive reactors.
Mass
Miniature
Radiography
I am indebted to the 4 Metropolitan Regional Hospital Boards for the subjoined
figures showing the number of persons (mostly working adults) examined during the
year by the Boards' mass X-ray units operating in London and the number of cases
of tuberculosis whose diagnosis was established during 1950. It will be seen that
many of the persons X-rayed were not London residents and that a number of
the diagnoses completed during 1950 related to persons X-rayed in 1949. Likewise
a number of those persons X-rayed during 1950 will remain under surveillance until
a firm diagnosis becomes established in 1951.
Men
Women
Total number of persons X-rayed on miniature film
during 1950 138,918 110,137
Diagnostic classifications completed during 1950 of
persons who were X-rayed in London during parts
of 1949 and of 1950:—
(1) Active Tuberculosis
London residents 259 217
Non-London residents 127 82
(2) Inactive Tuberculosis
Primary lesions 472 381
Other inactive lesions 1,543 856
Rehabilitation
Patients who have sufficiently recovered to be able to undertake work, either
return to their previous employment or start in other employment if their former
work is no longer available or is now considered too arduous, are assisted to obtain
new and more suitable employment, sometimes by the local Disablement Rehabilitation
Officer of the Ministry of Labour, sometimes by their own efforts and sometimes
through the local Tuberculosis Care Committee. Some selected patients are sent
by the Council to "village settlements" where they undertake courses of instruction
in work suited to their capacity and temperament. At the end of 1950 the Council
was financially responsible for 28 men and women at the British Legion Village,
Preston Hall, near Maidstone; for 11 men and women at Papworth Village Settlement
near Cambridge; and for 2 men at East Lanes. Tuberculosis Colony, Barrowmore
Hall, near Chester. Considerable difficulty is experienced in finding suitable employment
or training for severely disabled potentially infective tuberculous patients
(the "stable" chronics) and for these special " sheltered " workshops are urgently
needed. Schemes to build workshops of this kind in Paddington and in Stepney
are under consideration.
The
homeless
infective
ambulant
tuberculous
man
Throughout the year the Council was seriously exercised by the problem of
providing suitable accommodation for this type of patient for whom treatment is
unlikely to do much good. A scheme to build in Stepney a "night sanatorium"
for such men, in association with a proposed sheltered workshop for disabled tuberculous
workers, was submitted by the Council to the Minister of Health but in the
existing national circumstances further progress has had to be suspended.
Towards the end of the year, however, the Council was able to plan the provision
of residential hostel accommodation for 35 working tuberculous men in a house in
Islington and for 40 more severely disabled tuberculous men, unfit to work, in a
private hostel near St. Albans. Both these hostels were expected to be ready for
occupation early in 1951.
Discussions were also started with the Welfare Department of the Council with
a view to providing special facilities and precautions for tuberculous men residing
in the Council's common lodging houses.
From enquiries at chest clinics and sanatoria there appeared to be no call for
the provision of special accommodation for homeless infective tuberculous women
in London.