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92
Arrangements were made early in the year by the London County
Council for facilities to be given to the Tuberculosis Officer to visit the
Tuberculosis wards at St. Leonard's Hospital. Fortnightly visits were
commenced in May and have continued since. This arrangement has been
of considerable value to the efficiency of the Dispensary work. Patients for
whom hospital treatment was really necessary have been more easily persuaded
to accept admission to a general hospital, it has been possible to watch
their progress and in many cases to recommend their transfer to sanatoria,
and in a few advanced or dying cases removal to special homes has been
arranged. Since the visits were begun the Medical Officers of St. Leonard's
Hospital have given their full co-operation.
Special facilities.
(a) X-ray. Pulmonary cases are sent to the Royal Chest Hospital and
Dr. Kerley's reports have been of very great assistance. Non-pulmonary
cases are usually under the care and supervision of a surgeon at a General
Hospital, and in most cases any X-ray examination required is carried out
at the Hospital concerned. When this is not the case, the patient is referred
either to St. Leonard's Hospital or the Royal Northern Hospital for
examination and report.
(b) Artificial pneumothorax treatment. Refills are usually carried out,
by arrangement through the Dispensary, at one or other of the Chest
Hospitals, most of them at the Royal Chest Hospital. During the past
year arrangements have been made for refills to be carried out at Colindale
or Grove Park Hospitals for patients who have received treatment at these
hospitals. The cost is payable by the Borough Council.
(c) Finsen light treatment for cases of lupus is provided at the London
Hospital and general artificial sunlight treatment either at the London
Hospital or the Royal Chest Hospital.
(d) Ear, nose and throat cases are referred to Mr. Zamora at the Royal
Chest Hospital for examination and advice.
(e) Diseases of the eye are rarely met with at the Dispensary, but such
cases are referred to the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital.
(f) Surgical cases requiring the opinion of a surgeon are referred to
one of the general hospitals, such as the London, St. Bartholomew's, and the
Metropolitan Hospital, or the Queen's Hospital for Children.
After-care in surgical cases is supervized by the surgeon originally
recommending sanatorium treatment or by one of the London County
Council after-care clinics.
(g) Convalescence for non-tuberculous but ailing children is usually
arranged through the Invalid Children's Aid Association.
(h) Nursing of bed-ridden cases is arranged through the Queen Victoria
Jubilee Institute of Nursing.