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PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER CARE.
1,, Tuberculosis.
The arrangements regarding the Chest Physicians who are appointed jointly by the Local
Health Authority and the Regional Hospital Board in order to provide for their respective
duties of prevention under the Local Authority and diagnostic and curative work under the
Board, continued unchanged throughout the year and worked satisfactorily in practice. In
this connection, apart from regular day to day contact between the Chest Clinic and the
Health Department as the occasion arises, monthly conferences were initiated at which the
senior members of the Health Department and of the Chest Physician's team were present for
the discussion of subjects connected with the Tuberculosis Service.
(a) Work of the Tuberculosis Health Visitors.
During the year the four Tuberculosis Health Visitors have continued their work in the
regular home visiting of tuberculous patients, in the tracing and follow-up of contacts, and
in the education of the tuberculous case and his family In good hygienic practices.
In addition to this domiciliary work on the preventive side, each Health Visitor spends
two to three sessions per week at the Chest Clinic working with the Chest Physician on the
practical aids of prevention i.e. Mantoux Testing, B.C.G. Vaccination and in arranging for
the regular periodic X-ray examinations, as well as in the curative aspects of the Artificial
Pneumo-thorax refills and other forms of treatment undertaken at the Clinic.
On the resignation of the Social Worker at the beginning of the year, it was decided
that the social and domestic problems which he had previously dealt with, should be undertaken
by the respective Tuberculosis Health Visitors. Despite the increased demand made on these
Health Visitors as a result of this and the complexity of the problems involved, this
arrangement has proved most valuable to all concerned, and has allowed them to have an even
greater personal interest in the patient and his problems, as well as increasing the cooperation
given by the patient in carrying out the treatment prescribed and the advice given.

(b) Contact Tracing and Examination of Cases of Tuberculosis.
This is a most vital part of the work of prevention of tuberculosis.
As soon as a case of tuberculosis comes to the notice of the Chest Physician, the
Tuberculosis Health Visitor calls at the home address and ascertains the members of the
family and, where possible, any other people who have been in contact with the case.
Non-resident contacts outside the immediate family circle are also elicited by discreet
and tactful enquiries if absolutely necessary.
Adult contacts have a chest X-ray examination at periodic intervals, as is
considered necessary.
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