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
Greenwich 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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Contrary to the national trend, cases of venereal disease in
Greenwich residents coming to the notice of the department during
1970 showed reductions in all categories and they reverse somewhat
the figures submitted for the previous year. Syphilis cases
fell by 50%, gonorrhoea by 12%, other venereal conditions by
7.6% and the whole group averaged a decrease of 9.4% to a total
of 856 which gives a rate of 3.79 per 1,000 population compared
with 4.16 for 1969. Nevertheless, syphilis apart, gonorrhoea and
"other conditions" are still 22% and 23% respectively higher than
for 1968.
New Cases of Residents Treated During 1970 (as given in returns from the undermentioned Centres)
| Treatment Centre | Syphilis | Gonorrhoea | Other Conditions | TOTALS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwich District Hospital Miller Wing: | 8 | 64 | 231 | 303 |
| Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital: | 3 | 37 | 216 | 256 |
| St. John's Hospital: | — | 10 | 34 | 44 |
| London Hospital: | — | 1 | 11 | 12 |
| Middlesex Hospital: | 1 | 8 | 53 | 62 |
| St. Bartholomew's Hospital: | — | 2 | 31 | 33 |
| King's College Hospital: St. Thomas's Hospital: | — | 13 | 28 | 41 |
| — | 11 | 69 | 80 | |
| Westminster Hospital: | — | 2 | 23 | 25 |
| TOTALS | 12 | 148 | 696 | 856 |
Our venereal disease centres have served us well since the Act
of 1917 which led to their establishment but with the present
recrudescence of these diseases our specialists, whose numbers have
remained almost static over the last 10 years, are becoming overwhelmed.
In England and Wales, at the end of the year, only 136
doctors were engaged, full-time, in venereology of whom 86 were
consultants with 4 posts vacant. The Ministry of Health recognises
the situation by allowing hospitals to appoint "supernumerary"
registrar-ships to junior doctors prepared to undertake work in this
field.
NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND
FOOD POISONING
Legislation
No further national legislation was enacted during the year
under review.
General
During 1970, the number of Infectious Diseases notified under
Sections 47 to 49 of the Health Services and Public Health Act,