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

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St Pancras 1930

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]

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They are much appreciated by those to whom they are lent and their use should help to limit
the spread of infection.
The Health Visitors are instructed to make periodical visits and to report on their
condition and the manner in which they are used.
Disinfection of Rooms. —This procedure is always advised on the admission of a case to
Hospital or Sanatorium, on change of residence and after the death of a patient.
It is carried out by the Council's staff free of charge. During the past year disinfection
was carried out in 118 cases.

Home Visits and Inquiries. This work is performed by two special officers, and the number of visits paid by each during the year is shewn in the following table:—

Miss Camman3861
„ Holland3406
Total7267

In connection with Tuberculosis, the housing conditions of the family are important.
Any defects discovered on inspection are reported, and special efforts are made to secure more
adequate accommodation if any degree of overcrowding exists.
St. Panoras Tuberculosis Care Committee.
The Care Committee was constituted in February, 1923, as a voluntary committee in
accordance with the wishes of the Ministry of Health, and consists of representatives of various
Social Organisations and ten members of the Borough Council, working in connection with the
Tuberculosis Dispensary Scheme.
The functions of this Committee were indicated in a circular issued by the Ministry of
Health to be as follows:—"The primary duty of the Committee should be to consider the
economic position of the family of every patient suffering from tuberculosis as soon as he
comes within the purview of the dispensary scheme, and to render such advice and assistance as
the circumstances of the case dictate, with a view to enabling the family to adjust their
circumstances to the new conditions, to maintain their economic independence, and to derive
the fullest possible advantage from the medical treatment prescribed. Certain kinds of
assistance may be needed in particular cases, viz., additional food, change of air, clothing,
better home conditions, more suitable occupation ; the provision of financial or other assistance,
when necessary, for the family of a patient who is under treatment in a residential
institution, or temporarily for a patient and his family on his return home from such an
institution. Where the necessity for financial assistance arises, it can be better provided
through the agency of existing charitable or public organisations than from a fund administered
by the Care Committee, and in such cases it should be the function of the Care Committee
to bring the family into touch with the appropriate organisation. A subsidiary but
important function is to undertake, on behalf of the London County Council, the assessment
of charges made in respect of residential treatment afforded to children and to adults whose
income exceeds a certain figure. It is important, however, to secure that the activities of Care
Committees are not absorbed by the routine work falling under this head, to the detriment of
the main functions which are mentioned above."
The Care Committee were fortunate in 1928 in securing the services of Miss Whelon as
Hon. Secretary. Since her appointment, not only is the routine work ably and actively carried
out, but, thanks to her energy and initiative, a large number of necessitous patients have been