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Conferences were arranged, and a suggested scheme prepared, in which a
combination of the Boroughs of Holborn and Finsbury with the City of London and
St. Bartholomew's Hospital was proposed for carrying out the necessary work.
The Borough of Finsbury has since decided to establish a Dispensary to supply
that district alone.
In addition to a Report of a Departmental Committee appointed to report upon
"The considerations of general policy in respect of the problem of tuberculosis in the
United Kingdom, &c.," memoranda have been issued by the Local Government Board
and the London County Council. A circular letter of the Local Government Board
outlined the position that should be assumed respectively by the Corporation of London,
the London County Council and the Metropolitan Borough Councils in the provision of
dispensary treatment, and the arrangements which such would entail. The Circular
deals with Schemes as a whole, Preventive Measures, Duties of Medical Officers of
Dispensaries, and Finance. Reference is also made to a resolution of the London
County Council of November 4th, 1913, proposing contributions to be made by the
London County Council towards the cost of dispensary treatment of uninsured persons.
Whether the conditions attached to this latter resolution be accepted or not by
the Corporation, it is certainly proposed to supply the London County Council with
such information as may be necessary for the efficient execution of their duties, and
whatever the final decision may be, every endeavour will be made to ensure that the
scheme for the City of London shall be in complete uniformity with the work in
connection with the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis in London generally.
It was decided that the authorities of St. Bartholomew's Hospital be approached
with a view to ascertaining whether they would favour the creation of a special department
at the Hospital which would correspond with a Tuberculosis Dispensary, and whether
they would accept responsibility for staffing, housing and maintaining (in conformity
with suitable financial arrangements with the Corporation), so that all City cases might
be treated in such special department, and further that where it would be of advantage,
any non.resident person engaged in work in the City of London should be entitled to
the benefits of the City Dispensary. The arrangement would leave the Hospital free to
arrange with any other Metropolitan Borough.
The following matters were receiving the attention of the Sanitary Committee
at the close of the year:—
(1) Arrangements to be made between the Corporation and the St.
Bartholomew's Hospital for the treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis occurring
among City residents in accordance with a scheme to be approved.
(2) Consideration to be given to the Resolution of the London County
Council respecting the terms attaching to the contribution of 25 per cent. of the
net cost.
(3) The opinion of the Local Government Board to be sought with
respect to the possibility of the grant in aid of the dispensary being paid direct
to the Corporation.