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 West Ham]
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GATE CASES. The number of patients suspected to be
suffering from an infectious disease who were brought to the
hospital for diagnosis was 945. Of these, 229 were referred by
medical practitioners and 716 were brought direct by relatives.
The number of these admitted to the hospital was 125.
A total of 1,666 swabs from nose and throat were examined
for medical practitioners and other institutions for the presence
of diphtheria bacilli. Of these, 31 were found to be positive.
GENERAL MEDICAL CASES. As a result of the marked
decline in the prevalence of the common infectious diseases, a
number of wards in the hospital were unoccupied, and in this
connection an arrangement was made between the West Ham
Corporation and the Management Committee of Queen Mary's
Hospital, Stratford, whereby four of the empty wards were
made available for the accommodation of adult medical cases,
admitted through Queen Mary's Hospital. The cases remained
under the clinical care of the Medical Staff of Queen Mary's
Hospital and the general administrative control was vested in
the Medical Superintendent. The first two wards were opened
on the 29th May, 1947, and on the opening of the other two
wards later, accommodation was provided for 68 adult patients.
RETURN OF ADMISSIONS, DISCHARGES AND DEATHS FOR 1947
Disease | In Hosp. 31.12.46 | Admitted since | Discharged | Died | In Hosp. 31.12.47 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scarlet Fever | 28 | 311 | 301 | - | 38 |
Diphtheria | 9 | 36 | 29 | 2 | 14 |
Measles | 2 | 100 | 99 | 8 | — |
Whooping Cough | 2 | 72 | 62 | 12 | — |
Pneumonia | 7 | 42 | 43 | 3 | 3 |
Gastro-enteritis | 5 | 107 | 77 | 26 | 9 |
Erysipelas | 1 | 13 | 13 | 1 | — |
Typhoid Fever | — | 4 | 4 | — | — |
Meningitis | — | 15 | 11 | 4 | — |
Anterior Poliomyelitis | — | 10 | 10 | — | — |
Mumps | 1 | 8 | 8 | — | 1 |
Chicken Pox | — | 19 | 16 | — | 3 |
Laryngitis | 1 | 18 | 18 | — | 1 |
Bronchitis | 1 | 12 | 13 | — | — |
Tonsillitis | 3 | 98 | 97 | — | 4 |
Scabies | 4 | 10 | 14 | — | - |
Herpes Zoster | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Impetigo | 2 | 6 | 8 | — | — |
Rubella | — | 24 | 24 | — | - |
Influenza | — | 4 | 4 | - | - |
Otitis Media | — | 3 | 3 | - | - |
Toxic Rash | — | 2 | 2 | - | - |
Puerperal Pyrexia | — | 4 | 3 | — | 1 |
Tinea Capitis | — | 3 | 2 | — | 1 |