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
Tottenham 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]
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9
THE ORGANISATION adopted at the clinic has been designed
so as to have the work carried out with as little inconvenience as possible.
The co-operation of the mothers is ensured by seeing that their time is
not wasted. Appointments are made for each patient—a definite time
for a particular date being written on a card and handed to, or sent to,
each patient. The patients are called up for examination and treatment
in the order of time for which the appointments have been made, and
not according to the order in which the patients may choose to come to
the clinic. When a parent finds that order is strictly observed she comes
at the time arranged. The times are arranged according to the periods
required for treatment and to that most convenient to the parent.
THE TREATMENT given has been described in previous reports.
There is now no waiting list and any
case of acute otorrhæa can be seen and treated as soon as notified, thus:—
| Year. | Number of ears treated. | Number acute. |
|---|---|---|
| 1924-25 | 213 | 6 |
| 1926 | 181 | 27 |
| 1927 | 204 | 92 |
The importance of seeing cases of otorrhæa when they are in the
acute stage is that they can then be easily and quickly cured.
The clinic is a unit in which a definite policy is followed; where
an organisation is strictly adhered to; and where treatment (including
zinc ionization if necessary) is given according to the condition present
in each patient.
Mr. Cohen has a clear idea of the organisation, and Nurse Lindsay
has helped both the patients and myself.