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16
In the light of the Scadding report, the physician-in-charge prepared for the hospital authorities
a detailed review of the functioning of the Willesden Chest Clinic including the possibilities of its being integrated,
not without significant capital expenditure, into either Willesden or Central Middlesex General Hospitals
or split between the two. He concluded that, particularly in the absence of capital expenditure to provide
new buildings elsewhere, there was nothing to be gained from any moves which might disrupt the very satisfactory
functioning of the existing chest clinic.
VENEREAL DISEASE
Since the operation of the National Health Service Act, 1946, responsibility for the treatment of
venereal disease has rested with Regional Hospital Boards. Local health authorities, however, continue to
be concerned in co-operating with the venereal disease Treatment Centres as regards following up persons
under treatment or known or believed to be sources of infection. In this connection, the Council's Medical
Social Worker attended the venereal disease clinic at the Central Middlesex Hospital and her services were
utilised for the purpose of tracing contacts, following up defaulters, and assisting patients attending the clinic
in meeting any social problems with which they were faced. The majority of Brent residents attended Central
Middlesex Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital, W.2, but to preserve anonymity some patients present themselves
at clinics far removed from their homes.
The disease it not notifiable, but the number of new cases attending for treatment at various Centres
in 1968 is shown in Table 17. The incidence of the disease continues to cause concern.