London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Willesden 1919
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
This page requires JavaScript
116
It should be observed that although there are 213 beds for patients at the Hospital it is
impossible to have all of them filled at once. An overflow Scarlet Fever or Diphtheria case may prevent
the full use of "E" ward for cases of School Children, and similarly an imported Measles case may
prevent temporarily the full utilisation of any ward. It is also often found that a case requires to be
placed under observation as suspicious of some infectious illness, and this puts out of action for the
time being the ward in which this case is. To save accommodation it is arranged in the extension
that one ward of "C" Block is provided with cubicles.
Measles and Whooping Cough. Block "B" and One Ward of Block "C."
Hospital accommodation is urgently required for Measles and Whooping Cough in young
children.
I called attention to the importance of these diseases in connection with the deaths of children
under five in my report to the Council on Maternity and Child Welfare, dated 8th October, 1914.
The following table gives certain particulars with regard to these diseases:—
| Measles. | Whooping Cough. | |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated or actual No. of cases treated during 10 year period. 1909.18 | 119 | 17 |
| Total No. of deaths during 10 year period 1909.18:— | ||
| Under 5 | 350 | 365 |
| At all ages | 383 | 382 |
| Average No. of deaths in each year during 10 year period 1909.18:- | ||
| Under 5 | 35 | 36 |
| At all ages | 38 | 38 |
| Estimated No. of cases per annum during 10 year period 1909.18 requiring Hospital treatment, say 3 times the No. of deaths:— | ||
| Under 5 | 105 | 108 |
| At all ages | 114 | 114 |
The above table shows that it is estimated on the average that 114 cases of Measles and 114
cases of Whooping Cough will be treated in the Hospital every year. But these diseases appear as
epidemics in certain years and at certain seasons. To meet the requirements of these diseases having
regard to epidemic prevalence 57 beds should be provided. In place of this number, which would
only exceptionally be required, Block "B" with 20 Beds has been set aside for Measles, and Block
"C" with 12 Beds has been set aside for Whooping Cough, giving 32 beds in all which would be interchangeable
for these 2 diseases, depending on the prevailing disease at any time.
Observation Cubicles.—The Second Ward of Block "C."
The remaining Warden Block "C" is to be provided with 10 cubicles for isolation and observation
purposes.
Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever. Blocks "D," "E," "F " and "G."
At present 64 beds in Blocks "D" and "H" are set aside definitely for Diphtheria and Scarlet
Fever cases with the use of 30 beds in Block "E" as may be available. This number is too small
and during the recent epidemic prevalence of these diseases, from 20th October, 1919, to 20th December,
1919, 100 cases of Scarlet Fever have been nursed at home. All cases of Diphtheria requiring removal
have been admitted to Hospital.
In the extended Hospital Blocks "D," "E," "F" and "G" with 40, 30, 28 and 28 beds
respectively or 126 beds in all are set aside for cases of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria.