London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hampstead 1920
Report for the year 1920 of the Medical Officer of Health
This page requires JavaScript
56
Dental treatment for persons attending the Tuberculosis Dispensary.—
In the early part of the year inquiries were made into the question of
providing facilities for dental treatment for persons attending the
Tuberculosis Dispensary, and as it appeared that a good service could
be obtained from the British Dentists' Hospital, who undertook to
supply a dentist for one session per week, the Council entered into an
agreement with that Hospital accordingly. Grants will be received
from the London Insurance Committee, from the London County
Council, and from the Ministry of Health towards the expense
incurred. The dental clinic was opened on 14th July, 1920, at the
Tuberculosis Dispensary.
The following is a statement of attendances, etc.:—
| Insured. | Non-insured. | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Applicants | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| Old Cases | 11 | 40 | 51 |
| Totals | 12 | 52 | 64 |
| The number of free consultations was 22. | |||
Assistance is given by the Council to those persons who are unable
to pay the full cost of their treatment and dentures, according to their
means.
Separate Beds and Shelter for Tubercular Patients.— Early in the
year the Borough Council decided to avail themselves of the powers
conferred upon them by Section 3 of the Public Health (Prevention
and Treatment of Disease) Act, 1913, which makes it lawful for the
Council to make any such arrangements as may be sanctioned by the
Ministry of Health for the treatment of tuberculosis. With this
power, they decided to supply single beds in certain cases of tuberculosis,
which were recommended by the Tuberculosis Medical Officer,
with a view to providing the person suffering from tuberculosis with
separate bed accommodation. Five beds have been provided for this
purpose. In some of these cases the double bed, after disinfection by
the Council, was disposed of by the owner who provided one single bed
in its place, the double bed thus being supplanted by two single beds.
In other cases the bedroom with the double bed is used by one parent
and children, thus enabling the patient to have a single bedroom.
The Shelter, which was purchased by the Borough Council in
1913, has been used by suitable patients from time to time, and has
been much appreciated.
Home visiting of Ex-Service tuberculous men.—The home visiting
of tuberculous cases (which now includes that of ex-service men) has