View report page

14
of Social Service, the British Red Cross Society and the St. John Ambulance Association
for help in the home and with shopping, etc., and for assistance in nursing cases
confined to bed. Arrangements were made also for the supply of meals from rest
centres where necessary.
Tuberculosis. The number of persons examined for the first time at the
Dispensaries was 1,153. Of these, 197 were tuberculous. 267 contacts were
examined, of whom 10 were tuberculous. The total number of attendances at the
Woolwich and Eltharn Dispensaries was 5,438. There were 818 cases on the
tuberculosis register on the 31st December. 4,097 visits were made by nurses to
homes of patients and 54 by the Tuberculosis Officer or by an Assistant Medical
Officer. 739 cases were referred to the Dispensaries by medical practitioners and
165 by medical boards. 627 specimens of sputum were examined, of which'77
were positive.
The number of X-ray examinations made was 1,769. Additional nourishment
was granted in 220 instances. Twelve patients received dental treatment under
the Council's scheme. 488 patients were admitted to hospitals, sanatoria, or training
colonies.
The artificial pneumothorax clinic at St. Nicholas' Hospital, which commenced
in June, 1942, under the charge of Dr. A. Wingfield, continued throughout the year
and was highly successful from all points of view. The number of patients who
received treatment there was 56, and the number of refills given was 792. In
addition, 36 patients attended London Hospitals and 447 refills were given.
The Tuberculosis Care Committee continued their meetings and rendered
valuable assistance in various ways to the needy tuberculous and their families.
The payment of maintenance allowances under the Government scheme to
encourage institutional treatment of early cases of tuberculosis commenced on the
30th June. Application forms are issued at the dispensaries and the staff give any
necessary assistance in their completion. An Assessment Officer of the London
County Council attends at the dispensary every week and fixes allowances. Details
of the allowances payable are then forwarded to the Borough Treasurer, who
arranges for the payments to be made at one of four cash offices, or by post where
applicable. 110 patients were in receipt of an allowance at the end of the year,
and the scheme was working smoothly.
The Government, as part of the plan for extension of the tuberculosis service,
made arrangements for the provision of miniature mass radiography units for the
detection of symptomless pulmonary tuberculosis, and one such unit was allocated
to the London County Council. Representations were made to the London County
Council with a view to this unit being brought to Woolwich, but a visit had
not been possible by the end of the year. Another unit was, however, set up in
the Royal Arsenal.
Laboratory Facilities. The bacteriological work of the Council is carried
out at the War Memorial Hospital. Tn addition to the number of examinations