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58
BOROUGH OF SHOREDITCH TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY.
Report for Year 1927.
To the Medical Officer of Health,
Town Hall, Shoreditch.
Sir,
Herewith I beg to submit my Report of the work done in the Tuberculosis
Dispensary during the year 1927.
The total number of attendances during the year, viz., 5,809, is less than that
for the year 1926, but rather more than the corresponding number for 1925.
The total number of new persons examined, viz., 678, shows an increase of 62
when compared with the total for 1926.
In my Report for last year I stated that the Dispensary Register had been
revised. In the course of this revision, I found it necessary to include a number of
cases in which a definite diagnosis had not been made in past years. The actual
number so included was 100, a number out of proportion to the definite cases.
During the year 1927 special attention has been given to these cases, and I am glad
to state the number of such cases now on the Register is 29 ; several of these have
been known at the Dispensary for a period of less than one month.
There are two matters in connection with the Council's Tuberculosis Scheme to
which I think it advisable to call attention.
At the moment, there is only one Sister on the Dispensary Staff, and half of her
time is spent in the Dispensary. When it is remembered that there are some 1,761
notified cases of Tuberculosis in the Borough, it will be seen that Home Visiting by
the Sister cannot be carried out as thoroughly and consistently as is desirable.
During the past year 2,744 such visits have been paid to the homes of patients ;
it should be noted, however, that a large number of cases require constant attention.
I may perhaps be allowed to add that the Sister visits all notified cases of Tuberculosis,
not merely those attending the Dispensary. The services of a second Sister
would put Home Visiting on a sound footing.
The second matter which calls for consideration is the home nursing of bedridden
cases. The number of such cases is not large, but the attendance of a nurse
for an hour or so daily adds enormously to the comfort of these patients. I would
suggest that arrangements be made with some local Nursing Association for the
provision of this service.
I desire again to express my satisfaction with the way in which the members of
the Staff of the Dispensary have carried out their duties, and I have to thank you
for the assistance given by your Department.
I am, Sir,
Yours obediently,
A. LEITCH,
Tuberculosis Officer.