[Report 1944] / Medical Officer of Health, Bristol.

  • Bristol (England). Council.
Date:
1944
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1944] / Medical Officer of Health, Bristol. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    22/130 (page 18)
    condition, treatment administered, and progress in the individual case and to include a summary of any relevant social factors. Co-operation with the Department of Preventive Medicine has been facilitated by the provision of new pathological report forms drawn up in conjunction with Dr. Cooper. The importance of the social aspects of disease has by now become widely appreciated, and in no department of medicine is it as great as in the field of venereal disease. The provision, in 1943, of male and female welfare workers has proved of the greatest value. The rapid and confidential location of suspected sources of, or of others exposed to, infection has limited the possibilities of spread of disease by bringing in for clinic investigation a large number of patients. Default before completion of treatment bas been greatly reduced by a careful check on the patients’ visits to the clinics and by letter follow-up or personal call when irregularitiesoccur. In a number of cases there are valid reasons for non-attendance; in many instances, however, the irregularity is the expression of the irresponsibility of the individual. In the former cases, the welfare officers have frequently been able to smooth out the difficulties of the patient, and in the latter to ensure sufficient treatment to render the patient at least non-contagious. The continuing increase in incidence of the venereal diseases during the war period and the necessity for conservation of manpower led to the adoption of intensive short- term schemes of treatment, especially in the treatment of early syphilis, and in sulphonamide-refractory cases of gonorrheea. The availability of the later and less toxic arsenical drugs and the release of penicillin have made intensive treatment almost universally practicable. It is to be anticipated that, in the future control of venereal diseases, the various forms of intensive therapy will play an increasingly important role. In co-operation with the Maternity and Child Welfare services a special diagnostic clinic has been established for the detection of venereal disease during pregnancy. The Cancer Act, 1939. The Council’s scheme of interim arrangements under the Cancer Act, 1939, has now been approved in a modified form by the Ministry of Health and is as follows: — ” Arrangements made by the Council of the City and County of Bristol (herein- after called ’ the Council ’) to secure that the facilities for the treatment of persons suffering from cancer are adequate for the needs of the city. 1. The Council will provide all necessary facilities so that every person in the city who is or is suspected to be suffering from cancer may obtain advice and that every such person who is found to be so suffering may obtain adequate treatment. In particular the Council will provide the facilities set out in the following paragraphs. 2. The Council will provide by agreement with the governing body of Bristol Royal Hospital and at the Southmead Hospital of the Council, hospital treatment and where necessary in-patient accommodation for all persons in the city who are suffering from cancer. 3. The Council will provide facilities for consultation, including both diagnosis and medical observation after treatment as follows: — (a) By agreement with the governing body of the Bristol Royal Hospital, consultative clinics at the Bristol Royal Hospital. They will arrange for the attendance of consultants at the consultative clinics at such times as may be necessary. These facilities will be available for persons who are suffering or suspected to be suffering from cancer. 4. The Council will by agreement with the University of Bristol, arrange for the examination of pathological specimens in all cases where such examination is considered necessary for purposes of diagnosis or treatment. 5. In addition to the general arrangements set out above the Council may provide for the diagnosis and treatment of any individual case at such hospital or other institution as the Minister may approve. 6. The Council will in such cases as they consider necessary pay all or any of the travelling expenses (including the travelling expenses of a companion) reasonably incurred by persons for the purpose of availing themselves of the services provided under these arrangements. 7. The Council will arrange for records to kept in such form as the Minister of Health may from time to time approve of treatment provided under these arrangements and its results, and will send such records or copies thereof to any person for the time being designated by the Minister. 8. The Council will by such means as appear desirable give such publicity to these arrangements as they may think necessary for bringing them to the notice of persons to whom they may apply.”