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
Willesden 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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The cost per case treated by X-rays may be estimated by dealing with a month during which the Clinic was in full working order. If January, 1914, is taken we find that the maintenance cost was as follows:—
| £ | s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salary of Medical Officer | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Salary of Nurse | 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Rent | 2 | 18 | 4 |
| Cleaning and washing linen (estimated) | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Drugs (estimated) | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Electricity (estimated) | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Coals (estimated) | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| £15 | 19 | 3 |
The actual number of cases treated by means of X-rays
during that month was, as stated above, fourteen. But in
January, 1914, there were five Saturdays. It would therefore
probably be fair to assume that the average number
per month which can be treated by X-rays while the Clinic
is in full working order is eleven. Assuming that this
number is treated per month, and taking £15 19s. 3d. as
the expense of upkeep per month, the cost per case works
out at twenty-nine shillings. In this estimate nothing has
been allowed for depreciation of apparatus and fittings. In
any event, this is a small item, and is probably balanced by
the fact that in this estimate no allowance has been made
for the cost of treatment of cases by other means, the whole
cost of maintenance being allocated against the cases
treated by X-rays.
I am,
Your obedient Servant,
HALDIN DAVIS,
Medical Officer for the Treatment of Ringworm.