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40
liaison with the District Rehabilitation Officer at the Employment Exchange
so that patients may be found suitable work as soon as their
medical condition allows. During the period of absence from work whilst
undergoing treatment, the Chest Physician's maintain liaison with
the N.A.B. and by virtue of the nature of the illness special allowances
are made. In addition to the official sources of financial help Romford
and Hornchurch Tuberculosis Care Association have meetings at
monthly intervals to consider recommendations from patients who are
unable to work and who find themselves temporarily in financial difficulties.
Another important section of the work of the Chest Clinic is in
the prevention of tuberculous infection and all contacts of known cases of
tuberculosis are examined at regular intervals and in the case of children
and young adults they are offered B.C.G. vaccination in order to reduce
the incidence of tuberculosis in later life.
As a result of these activities a most gratifying fall in both the
incidence rate and the death rate has taken place during the past 12
years. Fifty years ago Tuberculosis accounted for 12% of all deaths, 30
years ago it was reduced to 8%, 10 years ago to 5% and in 1955 to only
2%. Another factor of the reduced incidence and more rapid treatment
has been the abolition of the waiting list for treatment in hospital, and
indeed, many Chest Hospitals and Sanatoria now have empty beds."