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43
The Hospital Management Committee (Romford Group 13), of which
the Chest Clinic forms a part, decided to renovate the interior of the
clinic and this was carried out satisfactorily and has improved the
amenities of the clinic very markedly.
In the X-ray Department various additions to the technical apparatus
have been provided and improvements added for the protection of the
staff and the general public against scattered radiation.
The general trend of tuberculosis continues to be satisfactory, though,
owing to transfers into the area of notified cases and a decreased death
rate, the total number of notified cases on the register has increased
slightly from 1, 522 to 1, 536. It is gratifying to note that the incidence
in tuberculosis in children is very small and continues to fall. This is
partly due to the great reduction in sputum-positive cases throughout
the country which is brought about by early diagnosis and effective
chemotherapy, which is often continued on a domiciliary basis for
periods up to 2 years.
The examination of contacts is considerably facilitated by the provision
of the Miniature X-ray Unit in the Chest Clinic, and this is also
used to follow up cases referred from the various Mass Radiography
Units serving the Metropolitan Area.
B. C. G. vaccination is carried out in all cases of children who are at
risk as contacts to notified cases of tuberculosis.
I should also like to mention the services of the Romford and
Hornchurch Tuberculosis Care Association who have done invaluable
work as a voluntary body for many years. Notified cases of tuberculosis
can be registered as Disabled Persons and thereby become entitled to
an extra allowance from the National Assistance Board if they are
rendered incapable of work by the disease. They are also entitled to
the National Insurance, but these two sources of help, generous though
they usually are, do not cover all cases of need that arise in a family
where a case of tuberculosis exists, and in these cases the Care Association
are able, through their voluntary helpers, to render further most
valuable aid".