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
St Pancras 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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45
Blind Persons.
As in previous years your sanitary inspectors have continued to visit blind persons living
in St. Pancras with a view to taking such steps as might be necessary to improve their
environmental conditions.
There are 73 blind persons on the register. In all but three cases the conditions under
which they were living were reasonably satisfactory. Rehousing was required in one case and
the appropriate recommendation was passed to the Housing Department. In the second case
conditions were improved as a result of help afforded by the Public Health staff and the other
blind person was removed to hospital. He has now returned and steps will be taken to help him.
During the year two blind people died and one moved away from the district.
Medical Examinations.
Eighty-three medical examinations were carried out by myself and Dr. Tracy to ascertain
whether personnel were fit for entry into superannuation or sick pay schemes, or for special
purposes.
The following table sets out the results of such examinations:—
| Fit | 68 | |
| Unfit | 2 | |
| To be examined again in a year's time | 1 | |
| Referred for further investigation | 1 | |
| — | 72 | |
| Fit to continue duty | 2 | |
| Fit in a short time | 3 | |
| Unfit | 1 | |
| Unfit for work as a bricklayer | 1 | |
| Unfit for work as a stonemason, but fit for work as a sweeper | 1 | |
| Unfit for work as a caretaker but fit for work as street inspector | 1 | |
| Fit for A.R.P. course | 1 | |
| Fit for surrender of superannuation | 1 | |
| — | 11 | |
| 83 |
Mortuary and Coroner's Court.— The following table shows the routine work undertaken during the year with, in brackets, the corresponding figures for 1951:—
| Post-Mortem Examinations. | Received for Viewing or Convenience only. | Total. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident and died in St. Pancras | 223 | (258) | 3 | (2) | 226 | (260) | |
| Died in St. Pancras, resident elsewhere | 112 | (131) | 7 | (4) | 119 | (135) | |
| Resident in St. Pancras, died elsewhere | 18 | (39) | 5 | (1) | 23 | (40) | |
| Resident and died elsewhere | 597 | (715) | 37 | (51) | 634 | (766) | |
| 950 | (1,143) | 52 | (58) | 1,002 | (1,201) | ||
| Inquests held at Coroner's Court | ... | ... | ... | ... | •• | 442 | (496) |