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I am indebted to Dr. Trenchard, the Tuberculosis Officer
at the Edgware Chest Clinic, for the following observations:—
"The total number of patients on the Clinic register
increased during the year 1949 from 1,561 to 1,669 after
taking into account transfers into and out of the area and
the removal of the names of patients who had recovered,
or who had been 'lost sight of' or who died.
During the year the difficulties over the admission of
patients owing to a shortage of staffed beds for tuberculous
patients continued for adult men, but improved for
children and for orthopædic cases. Unfortunately, the
difficulties over admission of adult women have increased
and such cases may have to wait up to 10 months before
admission. Some of the worst cases have been dealt with
by a system of priority in admission, but, of course, such a
procedure deteriorates still further the position of cases
on the ordinary list. There is a general shortage of beds
for tuberculosis throughout the hospital region even
though some additional beds are now open.
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