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being the Chest Physician, his medical colleagues, the Tuberculosis
Health Visitors, the Welfare Clerk, the Medical Officer of Health
or his Deputy, the Superintendent Health Visitor and the Chief
Administrative Assistant.
Nine of these conferences were held during 1953, the matters
considered including all new notifications since the last case conference,
together with hospital admissions and discharges, entrants
to the contacts register, action taken to ensure attendance of contacts
for examination and re-examination, non-notification of tuberculosis,
medical priority in re-housing and any other matter of
interest.
Other action in regard to Ascertainment and Follow-up—
(i) A chest X-ray examination on appointment is required in
regard to those persons in contact with groups of
children.
(ii) When a new case of pulmonary tuberculosis is notified,
enquiry is made as to infectivity, and if sputum positive,
all the records are marked accordingly, and action is taken
as if it were a case of major infectious disease.
(iii) Towards the end of 1953, approval was given in principle
to a pilot scheme of case finding by the patch testing of
school entrants, and this has already commenced in 1954.
Miss A. Woolgar, Honorary Secretary of the Walthamstow
and Chingford Association of Tuberculosis Care Helpers, contributes
the following report:—
"During 1953 there has been a considerable change in
the work of the Association, the main emphasis being no
longer on the provision of extra nourishment. Few milk
vouchers have been issued since the County Council's own
scheme of such vouchers became established and although more
grocery allowances are being made, expenditure on extra
nourishment generally is considerably less than has been usual.
"Funds previously spent on these items were thus available
for use in other directions, making it possible for us to
provide, in two instances, equipment for patients who were
unable to return to their previous employment, to undertake
light work at home, another patient being placed in employment
following a refresher driving course arranged by the
Association.
"It has also been possible, where a family has incurred
weekly payments before the onset of illness, to pay off their
accounts, so making it practicable for them to manage