London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1911

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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32
Notifications from Hospitals.—The certificates, numbering 889, which were forwarded by
the Medical Officers of hospitals under the Regulations of 1911 are classified in the following
summary :—

Notifications of Phthisis by Hospitals.

Description of Hospital Notifying.Number of Certificates as to Patients coming fromTotal Certificates Received.
Kensington.Other Districts.
Brompton Hospital for Consumption15372387
St. Luke's House, Pembridge Square33740
Other Hospitals in Kensington527
Total Certificates from Kensington Hospitals23411434
Paddington & Kensington Tuberculosis Dispensary323323
27 other Hospitals beyond the Borough132-132
Total from Hospitals not in Kensington455-455
Total Certificates from all sources478411889

From the above table it will be seen that out of 478 medical certificates relating to consumptives
whose homes were in Kensington only 23 were in respect of persons receiving treatment
from the medical officers of Kensington institutions. The figures in the second column show that
no less than 411 certificates in respect of persons whose homes were not in Kensington were
distributed by the Public Health Department and sent to the Medical Officers of Health of the
districts concerned.
The receipt of 323 certificates from the Tuberculosis Dispensary at No. 20, Talbot Road, in
the Borough of Paddington, also indicates that this institution provides for a large majority of the
consumptives in Kensington who obtain medical advice in hospitals.
Voluntary Notification.—Under the system of voluntary notification, which has been in
force in Kensington for a number of years, ten certificates from private practitioners were received ;
but in future, that is to say from January 1st, 1912, onwards, the universal compulsory notification
of consumption will render the voluntary system, which has done good service in its time, no longer
applicable.
Information from other Sources.—The names of children who are found by the Lady
Inspectors to be living in contact with consumptive persons and who attend the elementary schools,
are forwarded to Dr. Kerr, Medical Officer (Education), London County Council, in order that such
children may receive especial attention at the hands of the school medical inspectors. In return,
Dr. Kerr notifies any Kensington child that is found on inspection in school to be suffering from
consumption to the Medical Officer of Health for the Borough. During the year 29 school children
have been notified under this arrangement as suffering from consumption by the Medical Officer of
the Education Authority.
Persons Notified.—During the year 507 persons who had not been previously notified were
reported to the Public Health Department as suffering from consumption. It should be noted that
the figures given above in the sections under the heading "Notification" relate to the number of
certificates received, and since in certain cases two or more certificates from different sources relate
to the same patient, it is necessary to eliminate all duplicates in order to arrive at the number ot
persons who were notified during the year as suffering from consumption. This necessary correction
has been made, and the results are shown in the following table:—