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SECTION 28: PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER-CARE.
TUBERCULOSIS.
The statistics relating to notified cases of tuberculosis are given in an earlier
section, page 11-
There has again been a decrease in the number of cases notified during the year,
and in 1956 there was the lowest number of deaths due to tuberculosis ever recorded in West
Ham. Although these figures show a gratifying trend both in the incidence and death rate
of this disease, there still remains soope for improvement and much work still to be done.
The close co-operation between the Chest Clinic and the Health Department has
continued. The Senior members of the Health Department and the Chest Physician meet for
monthly conferences and close working liaison has been maintained.
(a) Work of the Tuberculosis Health Visitors.
The health visitors have continued their regular home visiting of the tuberculosis
patients and the appointment of a new member to the staff early in the year to fill the
vacancy which existed for seven months in 1955 has resulted in an increase of almost 1,000
visits to homes during the year.
Home Visits Clinic Sessions
1955 1956 1955 1956
2,595 3,511 4-68 538
The four health visitors continue to deal with the many social and domestic problems
which are involved in all cases of tuberculosis to a greater or lesser degree. This function
as health adviser and social worker has done much to gain the confidence and co-operation of
the patient both with the medical treatment and the after-care advised for his special needs.
The health visitors have continued their work and liaison with the Tuberculosis
Voluntary After-Care Committee and their knowledge of the families under their care has
proved of great value to the Committee in making decisions on the cases presented to them
This extension of the social work of the health visitor has proved a very important
factor in retaining the staff and the wider interest involved has supplied the much needed
encouragement to the recruitment of trained staff into this special sphere of nursing.
Social Work done by Tuberculosis Health Visitors.
Number of cases dealt with
566
72