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43
Prevention of Tuberculosis.—In connection with preventive work in respect
of tuberculosis, the Dispensary, which has now been part of the borough tuberculosis
scheme since April, 1921, continued to prove most valuable, the members
of the staff rendering excellent service.
Particulars with regard to patients dealt with during the year are shown in
a table at page 48, while the following short table summarises the information as
to visits paid by members of the staff :—
No. of visits by Tuberculosis Officer New, 77 Old, 167
No. of cases at Dispensary New, 293 Old, 1,496
No. of attendances at Dispensary 3,316
No. of visits by Miss Baker First visit, 174 Re-visits, 1,312
No. of visits by Miss Bartleet First visit, 85 Re-visits, 816
No. of Committee Meetings attended 23
The Tuberculosis Care Committee continued to meet fortnightly throughout
the year, Dr. Saner, Miss Baker and Sister Bartleet attending and assisting in
every way possible. The representatives of the Council on this Committee were :
Councillor Hugh Jones, Councillor Dr. C. A. Fuller, and Councillor Miss J. M. A.
Hamilton.
The Open Air School in Regent's Park, which was established in 1911, continued
its useful work during the year. The number of children on the roll was
21—14 boys and 7 girls—and the attendance numbered 7,707. Dr. Saner, who
has been Medical Officer of the School since he took office at the Dispensary,
continued to act in this capacity.
The following extracts from a report by the Tuberculosis Officer (Dr. Saner)
contain reference to a number of points that may be of interest :—
" In the last report mention was made of the arrangement with the Middlesex
Hospital for the carrying out of X-ray examinations in doubtful cases. Advantage
has been taken of this, and some early cases have been sent for sanatorium
treatment with gratifying results.
" Light treatment also referred to as a possibility is now an accomplished fact,
and some patients are undergoing treatment for glands and general debility. So
far the results have been promising, but it is too early to give a definite statement
as to the ultimate effect.
" During the year 104 patients have received sanatorium treatment or treatment
in one of the advanced hospitals. Of these twelve died during the year.
Twenty-eight are working, and thirty not working. Seven are fit for work but
do not seem inclined to begin. Seven have left the district. Others are out of
work only because they cannot find suitable employment.
" Wherever possible each patient has been recommended to return to his or
her original work because suitable out-of-door occupation is so difficult to find, and
is as a rule found to be more strenuous than the original. A very real difficulty
arises in connection with those patients who are infective and whose ordinary
work was in connection with food.
" To provide for Ex-Service men with a pension, a firewood factory has been
opened under the Red Cross and L.C.C., but the fact that a pension is necessary
tor admission bars those unfortunate Ex-Service men who applied too late or
whose disease did not show itself sufficiently early to be accepted as due to
service. It is these men who, unfit for ordinary work, could have done with the
wages paid in such a place to help the income of the wife who undertakes something
in the way of " daily cleaning."
"The Work of the Care Committee.—The Care Committee meets once a fortnight
to consider cases who need ordinary convalescent treatment, or other help.
The Committee consists of representatives from the Borough Council and the
following bodies or Hospitals : The Public Health Department, the London
County Council, the Board of Guardians, the United Services Fund, the Charity
Organisation Society, Portland Town Association (St. John's Wood Branch of the
Charity Organisation Society), The Invalid Children's Aid Association, the Jewish
Board of Guardians, Paddington and St. Marylebone District Nursing Association,
London Insurance Committee, the Working Classes, St. Mary's, St. Margaret's