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14
TREATMENT OF RHEUMATISM.
Details of the Council's scheme for the treatment of
Rheumatism were given in my report for 1943. The general
arrangements continued successfully during the year, the cost
of the scheme to the Council being £1,097. During the year 90
new patients attended, and a total of 6,049 treatments was
given.
1 am indebted to Dr. Francis Bach, consultant in rheumatic
diseases to the Red Cross Curative Post for the following note :—
" During the year 140 patients have been under my care.
It is difficult to have any more than a clinical impression of
the number of people living in the Borough who are suffering
from rheumatic diseases. In addition to those who have attended
the clinic under the Council scheme, there have been
several who have been referred as ' private patient'There
must be many who have not, for various reasons, been referred
to the clinic by their doctors and many who have not been
able to because either they are confined to their homes or are
going elsewhere for treatment.
The problem of rheumatism is a big one and the facilities
at our disposal must still be considered as inadequate. The
social service side is of very great importance and, during the
year, we have been made to realise that the link between the
patient, his home conditions, his work, his own doctor and the
clinic should be still closer. We have also realised that the
more detailed the investigations from the clinical, x-ray and
pathological aspect, the more often we are able to recognise or
rule out other serious conditions and to give the best treatment
that is at our disposal.
Some patients have been referred to St. Thomas's or elsewhere
for x-ray treatment, others have needed general treatment
for which we have been able to make suggestions to their own
doctors.
Some of those who were considered as chronic cripples have
been able to remain reasonably active throughout the year and.
in consequence, as well as being less strain on the time of their
relatives have been able to lead a reasonably happy life.
The physiotherapists at the clinic have worked hard and
enthusiastically. There is no doubt that, in general, the rheumatic
patient who wants to get better usually does get better under the
line of management we are employing. There are many
rheumatic people in Maiden who need treatment and, unfortunately,
many more will need treatment in the immediate future.