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15
One of the chief advantages of the scheme is that
general practitioners are able to send their patients to a
consultant in rheumatic diseases who advises the form of
treatment most suitable for the individual and this saves
much time and energy which might otherwise have been
directed to unprofitable channels. Furthermore, apart
from the physio-therapeutic treatment actually given at
the clinic, the patient's doctor is advised regarding care
and management at home, which is not the least important
aspect of the problem. The cost of the scheme to the
Council for 1944 was £938 and there is no doubt that this
sum was well spent.. During the year 87 new patients
attended, and a total of 5,324 treatments was given.
I am indebted to Dr. Francis Bach, consultant in
rheumatic diseases to the Red Cross Post, for the following
note:—
Routine work of the Rheumatism Clinic continues.
The Doctors working in the Borough are
referring more patients who are at work or who have
been at work, until a few days prior to their first
visit to the Clinic. In many of these people their
work has been the trigger factor, if not the main
causative factor of their disease. Some patients
suffering from an advanced stage of rheumatoid
arthritis have been sent to me. As they could not be
adequately treated as out-patients and needed prolonged
institutional treatment, we could offer them
too little help and I had to write to the Doctors suggesting
symptomatic medical treatment. Arrangements,
however, were made for one young woman
with early rheumatoid arthritis to be admitted for
investigation and treatment to one of the Sector hospitals
under my care. She benefited greatly from
the period of mental and physical rest and is now
back at work. Two patients have been admitted,
under my care, to the Rheumatic unit at St. Stephen's,
L.C.C. for observation and treatment, The number