London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Battersea 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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Council also notified the Council that they would pay the travelling
expenses of necessitous patients to and from their hospitals (not
being in the patients' own district), and the Care Committee were
asked to advance these fares.
In August the County Council notified their intention of providing
necessitous patients with necessary clothing, including boots
and repairs, during their period of residence in institutions, where
this provision could not be obtained from friends or through
charitable sources.
The number of patients who received institutional treatment
under the scheme of the London County Council was 139, and the
average length of stay was 78 days. The average period of waiting
before admission was 9 days. Of these patients, 85 were discharged
during the year, leaving 54 under treatment at the end of
the year. Definite improvement as a result of institutional treatment
was shown in 38 cases. Thirty-nine patients discharged themselves
while undergoing institutional treatment.
The results of treatment in 81 of the cases discharged from
sanatorium during the year are shown in the following table:—
Results of Institutional Treatment.
| Grade. | Quiescent. | Much Improved. | Improved. | In statu quo. | No material improvement. | Worse. | Died. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| t.c. | o.R. | T.C. | o.R. | T.C. | o.k. | t.c. | o.r. | T.C. | o.r. | T.C. | o.r. | ||
| A | 4 | — | 4 | — | 2 | 2 | — | - | — | 1 | — | - | — |
| B. i | 1 | - | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | - | - | 3 1 BD | - | - | 1 |
| B. ii | 2 | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 10 | — | 2 | 1 | 13 | — | - | 7 |
| B. iii | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | - | — | 2 |
| Non-Pulmonary | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
T.C. = treatment completed. O.K. =ow» request. B.D. = breach of discipline.
Tuberculosis Dental Clinic.
Dental facilities for tuberculous patients were first provided by
the Council in 1922. A weekly session is held at the Dental centre,
Southlands, and patients requiring treatment or the provision of
dentures are referred to the clinic by the Tuberculosis Medical
Officers. The number of sessions held during 1935 was 48, and 246
attendances were made, the average attendance per session being
5.1. The work carried out included:—Extractions, 103 ; scalings,
4; fillings, 20; dentures supplied—whole sets 9, partial sets 6,
repairs to dentures, 6; dressings, 16; advice, 57 (average per
session, 4.6); total, 221. The net cost to the Council during
the financial year 1935-36 for this service was £108 7s. 8d.