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46
Tuberculosis
The Borough is served by two clinics:-
(1) the Harrow Chest Clinic, Station Road, Harrow (Chest Physician
Dr. R. Grenville-Mathers) covering the main part of the district,
and
(2) the Edgware Chest Clinic, Edgware Hospital (Chest Physician
Dr. H. J. Trenchard) which includes in its catchment area the
small remaining part of the Borough in the Edgware District.
Care and After Care
The treatment, the preventive, and the after care services for this
disease are all inter-related and in order to achieve the best results must
of necessity work in close liaison. For this reason the arrangements for
this service continue to be centred on the two chest clinics under the
general supervision of the physicians in charge.
The services provided include general welfare, home visiting,
occupational therapy and vaccination against tuberculosis.
Welfare
The advisory services of a welfare officer are available to all patients.
This officer is mainly concerned with the many medical-social problems
that can and do arise in households as a result of a case or cases of tuberculosis
occurring there. Latterly with the fall in the incidence of tuberculosis,
more cases with other chest complaints—chronic bronchitis and
lung cancer—are being seen at the clinic. These cases also have many
social problems and are helped by the welfare services. Financial advice
rehabilitation and training, recuperative holidays, extra nourishment, etc.
—are all included in the welfare officers' sphere of work.
Home Visiting
During the year 2,327 home visits were made by the tuberculosis
visitors attached to the clinics. Their work includes advice on the home
care of patients, the encouragement of known contacts to attend the
clinic for X-Ray and medical supervision and general advice on care and
after-care arrangements. They also act as clinic sisters at diagnostic and
treatment sessions in the Chest Clinics.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy in the home and in the clinic plays a part in
the rehabilitation of patients. The services of a therapist are available for
three sessions each week.