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58
BOROUGH OF SHOREDITCH TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY.
REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1926
by
Alfred Leitch, M.B., Ch.B., Tuberculosis Officer.
To the Medical Officer of Health, The Town Hall, Shoreditch.
Sir,
Herewith I beg to submit my report of the work done in the Tuberculosis
Dispensary during the year 1926.
The total number of attendances for the purposes of examination, supervision
and treatment during the year was 6,086—an increase of 368 as compared with the
number for the year 1925.
The total number of persons who attended was 1,262, i.e., 100 more than in
1925. This increase, however, was not due to an increase in the number of new cases.
It resulted mainly from a searching out of certain persons who had failed to attend
the Dispensary for some time past. This is seen by the totals of tuberculous persons
attending, viz., 501 in 1926, as compared with 433 in 1925.
The total number of new persons examined was practically the same, viz., 616.
In 1925, the number was 610. Of the new persons examined 152 were found to be
tuberculous and 28 were regarded as suspicious. Most of the definite cases and a
number of old cases were recommended to the London County Council for Institutional
treatment and nearly all were accepted.
Visits paid by medical officers to the homes of patients were increased by 109,
viz., 367 as compared with 258.
Owing to the change in the return of work done in tuberculosis dispensaries by
the Ministry of Health, I found it was necessary that the Dispensary Register should
be revised. This was a somewhat formidable matter, since it meant the inspection of
several thousands of case records, dating back to 1912. I am glad to report, however,
that it has been accomplished, and I have to acknowledge the help given to me in
this connection by the Staff of the Dispensary, and at the same time I must express
my satisfaction with the way in which the routine duties have been carried out.
I am, Sir,
Yours obediently,
A. Leitch,
Tuberculosis Officer.