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77
Particulars with regard to patients dealt with during the year are shown in
Tables 46 and 48, while the following short table summarises the information as to
visits, etc., paid by the Tuberculosis Officer and other members of the dispensary
staff:—
No. of cases at dispensary New, 445 Old, 371
No. of attendances at dispensary 2,334
No. of contacts New, 170 Old, 77
No. of home visits by Tuberculosis Officer New, 34 Old, 122
No. of hospital visits by Tuberculosis Officer 61
No. of home visits by Tuberculosis Visitors—
First visits, 146 Re-visits, 2,170
No. of Care Committee meetings held 23
The Tuberculosis Officer has submitted the following report upon the work of
the year:
"Out of the 168 progress reports on patients who have had sanatorium treatment
through the London County Council, 40 men, 32 women, and 14 children are
working or at school; 8 are fit but have no work, 17 are unfit, 41 have been transferred
to other districts, and 6 lost sight of. Six declined to attend the dispensary,
and four have to be reported as having died.
The Care Committee, with Councillor J. Bennett as Chairman and Miss M. E.
Broadbent as Honorary Secretary, met fortnightly and 361 cases were reviewed.
The work of the Committee now consists chiefly of considering the needs of the
patients as regards extra nourishment, clothing, fresh employment, re-housing, and
financial aid. In a few cases help was given direct from the Committee; others
were referred to different charitable agencies within the borough, while the majority
were dealt with, on the Committee's recommendation, by the London County
Council. Miss Bowen continued her excellent work for the ex-service men and their
families. Extra nourishment in the form of milk is supplied to necessitous cases
either by the Borough Council or, in the case of patients already in receipt of outrelief,
by the Public Assistance Committee on the receipt of a certificate from the
Tuberculosis Officer.
The number of X-ray examinations made during 1938 was 409, an increase
of 39 on the previous year. The practice of X-raying all new cases and adolescent
contacts was continued as in the previous year. By this means only can it be definitely
ascertained that all early cases of pulmonary tuberculosis are detected
and sanatorium treatment provided at the stage when most benefit can be derived
from it. Cases on discharge from sanatorium have likewise been supervised by radiograms
at frequent intervals to ensure that improvement from sanatorium treatment
has been maintained.
The number of patients who have returned from sanatorium and were receiving
artificial pneumothorax treatment as out-patients of hospitals was 18 at the end
of 1938, an increase of two on the previous year. The treatment in such cases was
continued mainly at the Brompton and Middlesex Hospitals at a fee of 10/6d. per
refill, which includes X-ray supervision. Now that facilities for X-ray examinations
for diagnostic purposes are more generally available, it is hoped that, with earlier
detection of the disease, artificial pneumothorax treatment or a similar form of
collapse therapy will be suitable for more patients than has previously been the
case. It is a hopeful sign to see the continued increase in the number of patients
having successful treatment by this means, as it usually ensures a shorter stay in
sanatorium and a quicker return to their occupation. Most of the patients on the
dispensary register who are at present continuing this treatment are successfully
following their original occupation without adverse effects to themselves or danger
of infection to others."