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
Woolwich 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
This page requires JavaScript
were made principally at the St. Nicholas' Hospital and at the Memorial Hospital, but
also at the Brook and Eltham Cottage Hospitals. Domiciliary treatment was carried
out in collaboration with the general practitioners, of patients awaiting admission
to and on discharge from hospitals and sanatoria. Plans were in preparation for
B.C.G. vaccination to be offered to hospital staffs and to child contacts for their
protection.
The work of the dispensaries during 1949 is shown below in tabular form:—
Table No. 16.
| 1938. | 1947. | 1949. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Primary Notifications | 248 | 297 | 256 |
| Number of Persons examined for first time | 1,312 | 1,968 | 2,263 |
| Number of Contacts examined | 512 | 505 | 473 |
| Number of Contacts found to be Tuberculous | 21 | 14 | 16 |
| Total number of Attendances | 5,415 | 9,472 | 12,351 |
| Visits to homes of patients by Chest Physicians | 285 | 92 | 397 |
| Number of X-ray Examinations | 1,156 | 2,983 | 4,127 |
| Number of specimens of Sputum examined | 1,059 | 1,191 | 2,338 |
| Number of specimens of Sputum positive | 157 | 134 | 184 |
| Number of Cases on register at end of year | 874 | 1,438 | 1.399 |
The voluntary Care Committee on which the Borough Council is represented,
continued to exercise its function of using the funds at its disposal for the purpose
of providing assistance to patients and their relatives in emergencies not covered
by other agencies. Help is being given in many ways, including the supply of
clothing, shoes, extra nourishment and pocket money, and outings and comforts
for elderly patients and children. The funds are derived from interest on investments
and donations from both employees of firms in the Borough and from private
sources. Thanks are due to the many voluntary workers who collected over £200
by the sale of Christmas Seals.
Successful classes have been held twice weekly throughout the year at Maxey
Road, for dressmaking and for handicrafts, by the Care Committee in co-operation
with the London County Council. Materials for home occupational therapy have
also been provided.
Disinfection and Disinfestation. The Council's Disinfecting Station is
situated at White Hart Road, Plumstead, where there are installed two WashingtonLyon
steam disinfectors, one steam washing machine and a room for disinfecting
articles which cannot be subjected to heat. Infected articles of bedding, clothing,
etc. and articles infested with bugs, are disinfected at the station, but personal
clothing of persons treated at the two Cleansing Stations is disinfected at these two
stations.
During 1949, the Department carried out disinfection of 458 rooms in 323 houses
after cases of infectious disease, and of these, 77 premises had been occupied by
tuberculous persons. Some 3,627 inspections regarding verminous conditions were
made and 1,132 rooms were disinfested of vermin. 75 vanloads of furniture were
fumigated during the year.
31