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Facilities for diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis as well
as prevention and after care are provided by the Hounslow Chest Clinic, and home
visiting is carried out by Health Visitors attached to this Clinic, They are
also responsible for the examination of contacts and for the B.C.G. inoculation
for the prevention of tuberculosis. B.C.G. inoculation is now offered to all
the Mantoux negative. i.e. susceptible contacts of newly discovered tuberculosis
cases, 46 children from Brentford and Chiswick were given B.C.G. at the Chest
Clinic in 1962.
A prominent part in the treatment is played by domiciliary chemo-therapy
(i.e. treatment with suitable drugs or injections given at home) on the recommendation
of the Chest Physician with the aid of the Home Nurses (formerly
District Nurses) provided by the Middlesex County Council
Apart from institutional treatment provided by the local Hospital Management
Committees of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board in General
Hospitals and in Chest Hospitals, there is also a Middlesex County Council
Hostel for chronic ambulant male tuberculous patients.
Facilities for convalescence, rehabilitation and training are provided by
the Middlesex County Council and the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital
Board.
The social side of the treatment and prevention of pulmonary tuberculosis
is dealt with by the Welfare Department of the Hounslow Chest Clinic.
B.C.G. Vaccination
As a result of the findings from the Tuberculosis Vaccinations Clinical
Trial, which took place from 1950 to 1960, that a degree of protection could be
afforded by the vaccination of school children with B.C.G. a scheme was inaugurated
in the County of Middlesex for the tuberculin testing and, if necessary
vaccination of school children at the age of 13 During 1962, 749 children
were invited to take part in the scheme, 616 consents were received These
children were tuberculin tested and those found to be positive, indicating a
previous infection with tuberculosis of a minor or major degree at some period
in their lives were referred to the Chest Clinic for thorough investigation,
153 positives were so referred B.C.G. vaccination was carried out on 375
children 3 contacts of cases of tuberculosis were referred to the Chest Clinic,
All tests and vaccinations during 1962 under this scheme were carried out
by Middlesex County Council staff
HOUSING CONDITIONS OF CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS
NOTIFIED DURING 1962
The housing conditions of 33 of the 51 new cases of tuberculosis were
found to be as follows:-
32 patients lived in sufficiently satisfactory housing accommodation, (13
in flats 7 in houses 12 in lodgings or furnished rooms), but in one of these
cases, the property was old dilapidated and subject to dampness.
One of the patients lived in overcrowded conditions.
The housing particulars of 18 cases were not obtainable either because of
removal of patients to other districts or because of resistance of patients to
home visiting.
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