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
Merton and Morden 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
This page requires JavaScript
HOSPITALS.
Smallpox. The arrangements whereby cases of Smallpox
were admitted to the Surrey County Isolation Hospital, Clandon,
have now been discontinued. The South Bast Metropolitan
Regional Hospital Board have a agreed that any cases should be
admitted to the Joyce Green Hospital, Dartford, Kent. No cases
occurred in this district during the year.
Infectious Disease. The Wandle Valley Hospital under
the Regional Hospital Board, serves this area together with three
other neighbouring areas, Mitcham, Beddington and Wallington
and Coulsdon and Purley. The hospital has accommodation
for 80 patients.
During the year 135 patients from our district have been
treated in the hospital. Table IX shows in detail the conditions
for which admission was necessitated.
TABLE IX.
| Disease | Cases | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 113 | – |
| Measles | 2 | – |
| Erysipelas | 4 | – |
| Whooping Cough | 2 | – |
| Puerperal Fever | 1 | – |
| Tonsillitis | 4 | – |
| Diphtheria | 1 | – |
| Poliomyelitis and Polioencephalitis | 6 | 1 |
| Influenza | 1 | – |
| Bronchitis | 1 | – |
| Total | 135 | 1 |
General and Maternity.
1. The Nelson Hospital. The accommodation of this
hospital, which serves the Wimbledon, Merton and Morden area
is 106 beds, 47 of which are maternity beds.
2. Other Hospitals. Other hospitals available for the use
of residents of the district include the St. Helier Hospital situate
just beyond the boundary of our district in the Carshalton area
and the Epsom and Kingston Hospitals which are within a
matter of five miles or so.
28