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The main difficulties in respect of the immigrant
population are the frequent change of address and the marked
tendency to discontinue treatment. It is hoped that as
increasing liaison with the hospital departments concerned
is established, it will be possible to get a more accurate
picture of the incidence of venereal disease, and of those
chiefly involved, in the near future. This will aid in the
planning of health educational programmes which are fundamental
in the prevention of this group of infections.
Arrangements for tracing contacts and following up defaulting
patients are undertaken by the London County Council
Health Department under the provisions of Section 28 of
the National Health Service Act, 1946.
Respiratory Tuberculosis
The table on page 27 gives the number of notifications of
respiratory tuberculosis in age and sex groups for the past
five years. Although the total figures for 1960 show a
slight increase over those for 1959 (some of which are
not real but due to a review of the register) the steady
downward trend continues.
Of the 118 male notifications in 1960, 92 (78%) were
in respect of men aged 35 years and over (13 of these were
above 65 years) - a preponderance which is found in each
of the previous four years. Female notifications, on the
other hand, numbered less than one-third of the total and
more than half were in respect of patients below 45 years.
These figures confirm the continuing importance of older
males as reservoirs of infection.
Thirty-five (or 30%) of the 118 males notified in 1960
were inmates of the Camberwell Reception Centre giving a
discovery rate of *27 per 1,000 at this Institution which
shows little change from previous years.
Relatively few of the new patients were coloured
immigrants who may be a susceptible group, but it is gratifying
to note the remarks of the Chest Physician regarding
their co-operation.
* Compared with 2 cases of active tuberculosis per 1,000
examinations by mass radiography.