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 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]
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89
year. A Ministry of Health circular has laid down the method to be used when
administering streptomycin on account of the tendency of staff to develop a
reaction after handling the drug, usually in the form of dermatitis. No
nurse has suffered any reaction in this Area.
Another aspect of the home nursing service which is becoming more
familiar is the nursing at home of the elderly ill patient who for one reason
or another cannot be admitted to hospital. These patients are a constant
source of anxiety as they are often in a very neglected state and living
alone, and all the resources of the service do not seem adequately to meet
their needs.
Very full use is made of the services of the British Red Cross Society and
the Old People's Welfare Committees and all requests are met with promptness
and courtesy.
The following table gives details of the cases attended by home nurses
during the year. It is set out in the form now required by the Ministry of
Health and direct comparison with previous years is not possible.
TABLE 8
| Type of Case | No, of new cases attended by home nurse during year | No. of cases remaining on register at end of year | No, of visits paid by home nurses during year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | Total | M | F | Total | ||
| Medical | 842 | 1,537 | 2,379 | 148 | 316 | 464 | 55,727 |
| Surgical | 193 | 328 | 521 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 10,348 |
| Infectious diseases | 1 | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | 17 |
| Tuberculosis | 86 | 56 | 142 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 5,056 |
| Maternal complications | - | 18 | 18 | - | 1 | 1 | 179 |
| Others | - | 4 | 4 | - | - | - | 125 |
| Totals | 1,122 | 1,945 | 3,067 | 182 | 356 | 538 | 71,452 |
VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION (SECTION 26)
Vaccination
The scheme to provide for the vaccination of infants by medical officers
at the centres has produced dranatic results and a better percentage of infant
vaccination was achieved last year than when vaccination was compulsory In
1947 the percentage of vaccinated children under 1 year of age was 41% In
1949 the figure had fallen to 18% and last year the percentage for the Area
was no less than 51%- This indicates that the intensive education of parents
on the importance of vaccination, which has been a routine function of the
medical and nursing staff of the area health service, is bearing fruit and is
greatly aided by the facilities now available at the clinics.