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It is suggested that as a first step, grants should be obtained from the King
Edward's Hospital Fund, to allow of wards, which are now empty for lack of funds, to
be opened for this purpose.
Up to the present, however, no definite or final arrangements have been made.
PUBLIC HEALTH (TUBERCULOSIS IN HOSPITALS)
REGULATIONS, 1911
On the 18th December 1908, the Local Government Board in pursuance of the
powers vested in them by Section 130 of the Public Health Act, 1875, as amended by
the Public Health Act, 1896, issued Regulations known as the Public Health (Tuberculosis)
Regulations, 1908, providing for the compulsory notification to the Medical
Officer of Health of the Sanitary Authority, of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Phthisis or
Consumption) occurring amongst the inmates of Poor Law Institutions or amongst
persons under the care of Poor Law Medical Officers when acting in their public
capacity, and further provided for notification of change of address (other than by
admission to a Poor Law Institution) by any person in respect of whom a notification
has been made.
A further step in the direction of impressing upon the public generally, and
especially the poorer classes, the fact that the spread of consumption is mainly due to
infection, and as such can be fought and suppressed, has now been taken. When the
Regulations of 1908 were issued it was pointed out that the desirability of affording
facilities for extending the administrative powers therein granted, was under consideration,
and as a consequence, the Local Government Board in March last issued the Public
Health (Tuberculosis in Hospitals) Regulations, 1911.
These Regulations provide for the notification of cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
occurring amongst the in-patients and out-patients at hospitals, dispensaries, or other
similar institutions for the treatment of the sick, which are supported wholly or partially
otherwise than by the contributions of the patients (or of their relatives or guardians)
and otherwise than from rates and taxes. The Regulations require that the Corporation
shall provide and maintain a sufficient supply of printed forms or certificates to be
furnished to the governing body of every hospital (within the meaning of the
Regulations) within the City area.
Such certificates duly filled up and completed must be forwarded to the Medical
Officer of Health for the area in which the hospital is situated, by the Medical Officer of
such hospital within 48 hours of his first recognition of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in any
person on whom he has professionally attended at the hospital.
The Medical Officer of Health in any case when the patient referred to in such
notification does not reside within his district, must further transmit the notification to
the Medical Officer of Health for the area in which the patient lives, and shall at the
same time notify the Medical Officer of the hospital that he has done so, and shall give
him the name and address of the Medical Officer of Health to whom the notification
has been sent. It will be seen, therefore, that the responsibility of ascertaining
the residence of the patient is thrown upon the Public Health Officials.