London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of London 1935

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]

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On diagnosis, these patients are informed that they can be treated and advised at the
Dispensary or transferred to the Tuberculosis Officer of their own Borough.
(b) Who do not work in the City.

On diagnosis, these patients are usually transferred to the Tuberculosis Officer of their own Borough. The total number of cases so transferred was 116.

Total Attendances:—
Residents340
Non.Residents1,242
1,582

In view of the fact that the cases in the last stages of the disease are extremely infectious,
especially in crowded houses, the Corporation have made arrangements to pay for the maintenance
of selected City cases at St. Columba's Hospital, Swiss Cottage. No case was
admitted in 1935.
During past years a certain amount of difficulty has arisen in connection with the
residential treatment of cases who were residing at the place at which they were employed,
when diagnosed as having pulmonary tuberculosis. In order to meet this, the Corporation
have made an arrangement with the Brompton Hospital whereby urgent cases can be
admitted within 48 hours under Dr. Young's personal care, under a Certificate from the
Medical Officer of Health. Three cases have been admitted under this scheme during the
year.
Artificial Pneumothorax.—Artificial pneumothorax treatment has been used again
during the year. Artificial pneumothorax refills were done on 27 City and 225 non.City
patients, in connection with the Dispensary.
The Tuberculosis Sister and Nurse.—As an adjunct to the work at the Tuberculosis
Clinic, the outside work of the Tuberculosis Sister and Nurse has been continued on the
same lines as former years. Forty.five homes have been visited, and 180 visits made in
connection with after.care and following up, and three in connection with City deaths.
General.—The following information is supplied in accordance with the requirements
of the Ministry of Health:—
(i.) The Tuberculosis Dispensary is at St. Bartholomew's Hospital; the Tuberculosis
Officer is Dr. F. H. Young, O.B.E.; one Tuberculosis Sister and one Tuberculosis Nurse
are engaged in the work. Treatment in residential institutions is provided for insured and
uninsured persons by the London County Council.
(ii.) Patients are referred to the Tuberculosis Dispensary from doctors, hospitals, school
clinics and other institutions, with all of which there is close co.operation.
The services of the Staff and all the resources of St. Bartholomew's Hospital are available
for diagnosis and treatment. Many patients are referred to departments of the Hospital
for these purposes.
(iii.) The Tuberculosis Officer is in constant consultation and communication with
general practitioners, so that there is close co.operation between them and the Dispensary.
He reminds them when reports are due on insured patients under domiciliary treatment
and provides them with copies of the form with names and addresses inserted.
(iv.) When the diagnosis is in doubt and the patient is under the care of a practitioner,
arrangements are made with him for re.examination; in other cases arrangements are made
with the patient, but should he fail to attend, either the Tuberculosis Sister calls upon him
or he is reminded of the appointment in writing.
(v.) The Tuberculosis Officer explains to the patients the importance of the examination
of home contacts, and in addition to the necessary visits of the Sanitary Inspectors, the
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