Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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5
DOMESTIC HELP SERVICE.
Owing to the small resident population of the City, it has been neither necessary nor practicable
to engage whole-time domestic helps. In every case where domestic help was urgently needed ad hoc
arrangements have been made through the Honorary Welfare Officer. From 1st January to 4th July,
1948, domestic help was provided in 11 cases, the total hours of work being 1,333.
Notifications received :— | Total cases notified. | Cases admitted to Hospital. |
---|---|---|
These consisted of the following :— | ||
Acute Primary Pneumonia | 1 | 1 |
Scabies | 2 | 1 |
Measles | 10 | 2 |
Scarlet Fever | 1 | — |
Tuberculosis | 12 | 3 |
Erysipelas | 1 | — |
Whooping Cough | 2 | — |
SMALLPOX AND TYPHUS FEVER CONTACTS.
Cases of Smallpox occurred on ships arriving at Liverpool and Southampton. Contacts were
allowed to leave the ships on condition that they gave to the Port Health Authorities their names
and the addresses of their destination. These names and addresses were communicated to the Medical
Officers of Health of the districts to which the contacts were proceeding, who were responsible for
surveillance of the contacts. In the City, enquiries were made in regard to 2 contacts and appropriate
action taken.
Under the Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations, 1938, notifications are received of passengers
arriving in this country by air from areas infected with Typhus or Smallpox. Enquiries were made
in connection with 11 passengers during 1948.
PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES—TUBERCULOSIS.
On July 5th, 1948, the " Appointed Day " under the National Health Service Act, 1946, the
functions exercised by the Corporation in connection with the treatment of Tuberculosis were
transferred to the North East Metropolitan Regional Hospitals Board and the information given
below therefore relates only to the period 1st January to 4th July.
No. of Sessions held | 104 | |
No. of Patients attending :— | ||
Residents | 154 | 504 |
Non-Residents | 350 | |
No. of New Patients | 94 | |
No. of Resident Patients admitted to Sanatoria, Hospices, &c. | 1 | |
No. of Artificial Pneumothorax Refills given | 216 | |
No. of Visits made to Homes | 42 | |
No. of Contacts kept under observation | 28 |
Milk was supplied to two patients during the period under review.
The Minister of Health, during 1943, made available to local authorites funds for the payment
of allowances to persons who have to give up remunerative work in order to undergo treatment,
either at home or in sanatorium. So far as the County of London is concerned the London County
Council are the Assessing Authority for the payment of allowances, but the Minister has laid down a
scale of payments which is as follows :—
A tuberculous married man with a dependent wife or a tuberculous wife whose husband is
dependent on her income, receives jointly 39s. per week while the patient is undergoing treatment at
home, this sum being decreased by ten shillings should the patient be in sanatorium. A single person
is entitled to 25s. per week while away from work but not in sanatorium, such payments ceasing if
the patient enters sanatorium. Additional sums are payable in respect of dependent children or
infirm persons, and allowances are made towards rent. These payments are only payable where
treatment is hoped to be " curative," and are not payable to " incurables," and in the former case
must only be paid for six months after discharge from sanatorium except with the approval of the
Minister. The object of these allowances is to enable patients to undergo curative treatment.
During the period under review allowances were paid to five patients, in accordance with the
above-mentioned scale.
VENEREAL DISEASE CENTRE.
On July 5th, 1948 the " Appointed Day " under the National Health Service Act, 1946, the
functions exercised by the Corporation in connection with the treatment of Venereal Diseases were
transferred to the North East Metropolitan Regional Hospitals Board, and the information given
below therefore relates only to the period 1st January to 4th July.
Sessions are held daily except Sunday.
During the period mentioned above 453 new cases attended for treatment of which 375 were
men and 78 were women.