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25
TUBERCULOSIS.
The successful visit of the Mass X-Ray Unit which is controlled
by the Regional Hospital Board illustrates successful co-operation
in the National Health Service in spite of multiplicity of control
and responsibility.
In 1952 the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations 1952
came into operation. These had the effect of revoking and replacing
the 1930 Regulations, but re-enacted the provisions for the notification
of Tuberculosis by Medical Practitioners to the Medical
Officer of Health of the district.
The new regulations no longer require a Medical Officer of
Health to keep a register of tuberculosis notifications, nor do they
provide for information of a tuberculous patient entering or leaving
a sanatorium or hospital being sent to the Medical Officer of Health
of the district to which the patient belongs.
The Minister of Health felt that the 1930 Regulations had
become outdated and at variance with the present structure and
operation of the Tuberculosis Services, as by S.28 of the National
Health Service Act, 1946, statutory responsibility for preventing
tuberculosis and for the care and after-care of tuberculous persons
is placed upon Local Health Authorities. At the same time, the
Minister stated that District Councils have statutory functions as
Sanitary Authorities under the Public Health Acts, or as Housing
Authorities, some of which may have an important part in preventing
the spread of tuberculous infection.
In addition to the Local Sanitary Authority and Local Health
Authority, many other bodies would appear to be concerned in the
welfare of the tuberculous patient. First of all, there is the General
Practitioner who is the patient's personal medical attendant. The
Regional Hospital Board provides the Specialist staff for diagnosis
and treatment in Clinics and Hospitals, and Mass X-Ray Units.
The Local Health Authority is mainly responsible for prevention,
care and after-care by provision of Health Visitors and
Welfare Officers to the homes, occupational therapy, re-habilitation
as in colonies or sheltered workshops, hostels for homeless, loan of
equipment, extra nourishment, home nursing, tuberculin testing
and X-Ray of contacts and B.C.G. vaccination. The National