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(d) Provision of Foodstuffs, Medicine, and Apparatus.
Milk is provided in necessitous cases, where such provision is
needed to prevent deterioration in the patient's condition pending
admission to a sanatorium, or where with such provision there are
reasonable grounds to anticipate a cure of the disease. In the case
of school children the milk recommended is provided by the Education
Committee at school, subject to periodic re-examination of
the children.
Medicine to a small extent, cod liver oil and malt in larger
amount are issued chiefly to children and to a few uninsured adults.
Insured patients and pensioners receive such drugs as are necessary
through their panel doctors. The cost price is charged for drugs
issued from the dispensary in all except necessitous cases.
(e) Home Nursing.
One nurse is entirely engaged in the nursing at home of bedridden
patients requiring special assistance and supervision, including
the keeping of temperature records for diagnostic purposes,
and the obtaining of sputum when required.
Such patients received a total of 2,012 visits during the year for
the purpose of home-nursing.
(f) Supervision of Home Conditions.
The health visitor for the district visits on receipt of notification
of a case—except where the medical practitioner notifying has
requested that no visit be paid—and obtains particulars, as to the
patient, the home circumstances, possible sources of infection, and
the names of any other residents, indicating in particular those
with symptoms suggestive of the disease. The patient is then in
suitable cases seen at the dispensary, and steps are taken by the
Tuberculosis Officer to examine or to encourage the examination
of the contacts showing suspicious symptoms.
At intervals not exceeding three months—and in special
cases at shorter intervals—the report card is automatically returned
to the health visitor for a re-visit, at which the health of patients
and contacts is ascertained, and advice given where required on
measures aimed at the prevention of infection of the remainder of
the household.
Under the arrangements in force in 1924, 514 first visits, 978
unsuccessful visits with failure to obtain entry, and 3,174