View report page

42
Treatment of Tuberculosis.
Admissions to hospital and sanatoria during the year numbered 175, and .
every effort was made to obtain institutional treatment for all suitable cases.
The London County Council continued the arrangement whereby the Borough
Tuberculosis Officer is deemed to be an honorary consultant for tuberculosis in the
general hospitals under the County Council's control. The hospital attended by the
Tuberculosis Officer for this purpose is St. Charles', Ladbroke Grove, North Kensington,
W.10, to which the majority of St. Marylebone patients for hospital treatment
are admitted.
Artificial Pneumothorax Therapy.
This form of treatment, for which patients were previously referred to hospital,
w as, with the installation of the X-ray plant, commenced in the Council 's Dispensary
on the 20th July, 1940. Eighteen patients were dealt with and a total number of
136 refills were given between that date and the end of the year. These facilities
have been fully appreciated not only by the dispensary staff but by the patients in
tho great saving of time effected in securing treatment. The expense involved in
making provision for refills to be given in hospital has also been avoided.
Extra Nourishment for Tuberculous Persons.
Under arrangements made by tho Council and sanctioned by tho Minister of
Health under section 219 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, milk was supplied
to tuberculous persons under the tuberculosis dispensary scheme. The number of
orders issued during the year was 351, the amount expended being £126 2s. 5d.
Prevention of Tuberculosis.
On the 24th April, 1940, the dispensary removed from temporary accommodation
at the Old Baths Establishment, Marylebone Road, to the new Health Centre
forming part of fie Town Hall Extension. The work proceeded on practically a normal
basis throughout 1940.
Particulars with regard to patients dealt with during the year are shown in
Table 18, while the following short table summarises the information as to visits,
etc., paid by tho Tuberculosis Officer and other members of the dispensary staff:No.
of cases at dispensary New, 276 Old, 364
No. of attendances at dispensary 1,926
No. of contacts New, 86 Old, 25
No. of homo visits by Tuberculosis Officer New, 11 Old, 119
No. of hospital visits by Tuberculosis Officer 53
No. of home visits by Tuberculosis Visitors-
First visits, 93 Re-visits, 1,264
In addition to the Borough Council's dispensary there is another-the Margaret
Street Dispensary-which is provided by a voluntary body and also possesses
facilities for the treatment of tuberculosis.
X-Ray Examinations.
The new plant installed in the basement of the Town Hall Extension as part
of the Council's Dispensary Service was brought into use on the 13th June, 1940, and
during the remainder of the year 373 examinations were made. Tho advantages of
having radiological facilities on the premises have been appreciated by the staff,
and loss of working time to patients has been reduced to a minimum. The apparatus