View report page

176
Where it is nor possible for the contacts to attend the dispensary
for examination the Medical Officer examines them in their own
home, but this is not a course to be recommended unless as a last resource.
This work is beset with many difficulties, but must be regarded as a very
useful measure on the preventive side of the work of a tuberculosis
dispensary.
Home Visits.— Visits to the homes of the patients are undertaken
by the Medical Officer and the Nurse, and have for tlieir object (a) the
supervision and education of the consumptive patients; and (b) treatment
of such cases as are unable, on account of the severity of their case,
or for other reasons, to attend at the dispensary.
Since the opening of the dispensary the following domiciliary
visits have been made:—
Medical Officer 317
Nurse 696
1013
In addition, every notified case is visited by a Borough Council
health visitor who reports on housing conditions, and a great number of
visits are undertaken by the voluntary visitors of the Council of Social
Welfare. No figures are available with respect to the last-mentioned
visitors in view of the fact that their work is done quite independently of
the dispensary staff, and so no official relationship exists between the
voluntary workers and the Borough Council staff. At the same time
every effort is made to insure unoffical co-ordination, by frequent and
periodical consultations between the Tuberculosis Medical Officer and the
voluntary agency, and this co operation is further insured bv the fact
that the Medical Officer of Health, the Dispensary Medical Officer,
and the Borough Council health visitor are all members of the JointTuberculosis
Committee of the Council of Social Welfare and the
Hampstead Health Society. The work done by the voluntary agencies
mentioned and the co-operation with the Borough Council officials
indicated are important factors in the work of the dispensarv, and the
Tuberculosis Medical Officer takes this opportunity of acknowledging
the valuable assistance afforded by the voluntary workers. In view of
the importance of housing conditions as a factor in the incidence and
spread of pulmonary tuberculosis, domicilary visitation and supervision
plays an important part in the work of the dispensary.