View report page

PROPHYLAXIS, CARE AND AFTER-CARE
Under Section 12 of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, a local
health authority may make arrangements for the purpose of the prevention of illness,
for the care of persons suffering from illness, and for the after-care of such persons.
Mental Health Services provided under the Mental Health Act, 1959, as amended by
this section, are dealt with in a later section of this report.
TUBERCULOSIS
Arrangements for the provision of this service are shared between the Council
and the North- East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board and are based on the
Edmonton Chest Clinic, situated at the North Middlesex Hospital. Dr. Vernon
Davies, Dr. R. H. Elphinstone and Dr. E. N. O'Brien continued to be responsible
for the consultant work. I am indebted to Dr. Elphinstone who, in Dr. Vernon Davies'
absence due to illness, supplied the detailed information given in this part of the
report.
The Chest Physician, who supervises the work of the tuberculosis health visitors
employed by the Council, is responsible not only for all matters concerning diagnosis
and treatment but also for the local health authority care and after-care services. The
chest clinic service provides facilities for the investigation and treatment of all forms
of chest disease. With the smaller amount of work necessary to deal with tuberculosis
nowadays, more time is given to other chest diseases, particularly bronchitis, asthma
and carcinoma of the lung.
The number of deaths from tuberculosis during the year was eight, of which
five were due to pulmonary tuberculosis.
During the year 4,184 persons attended the Chest Clinic for the first time and
were investigated for various chest conditions.
Of these new patients, 184 were cases of suspected respiratory tuberculosis and
205 were their personal contacts. Fifty-six of the suspected cases were confirmed
and notified while the remainder are still under observation. Ten cases of respiratory
tuberculosis (of whom eight were children) were found among the contacts.
Forty-five cases of respiratory tuberculosis required treatment in hospital.
Eleven cases of non-respiratory tuberculosis were notified.
At the end of the year there were 1,886 patients on the tuberculosis register.
The numbers of attendances at the chest clinic last year were the lowest for
many years and may reflect the beneficial effects on chest patients of the exceptionally
fine weather during the summer months.
It must be stressed that tuberculosis remains a serious disease and that the
present level of general improvement in its control and prevention in this country,
whilst encouraging, affords no justification for complacency.
41