London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Greenwich 1927

The annual report made to the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich for the year 1927

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68
At the close of 1927 the estimated number of persons suffering
from Tuberculosis and residing in the Borough was as
follows :—
Men. Women. Children. Total.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis 234 216 164 614
Non-Pulmonary 36 33 179 248
giving a total of 862 as against 868 in the previous year.

Dealing with the Dispensary itself, 686 new patients were examined during the year. The sources from which these patients came were as follow : —

Doctors209
Hospitals15
School Medical Service26
Ministry of Pensions3
Own Application72
Nurses (Contacts)361

Contacts.—Much of the nurses' time is spent endeavouring
to secure the examination of every contact. This year, out of a
total of 582 contacts, 400 were examined, or almost 70 per
cent., of whom 23 were found to be tuberculous, and 2'1 doubtfully
so, these latter bsing still under observation.
The work of the Dispensary is shown in the statistical table
on page 74 and explains itself.
Sanatorium Treatment.—During the year 133 patients were
sent to sanatoria, 84 under the County Scheme, 48 through the
Guardians, and 1 through other sources. The average duration of
residence was two months, but the same difficulties remain in
finding suitable employment for those discharged fit for work.
Two patients entered more than once.
In addition, 65 children are attending the Open-Air Schools
at Shooters Hill and Brent Knoll, and are all doing remarkably
well. The Open-Air School brings practically all the advantages
of the Sanatorium to the immediate homes of the children
without in any way breaking with the home life or interrupting
their education. They are or should be the schools of the future.
The children are all periodically examined at the Dispensary, in
addition to the supervision of the School Medical Officer.
X-Ray Examinations.—During the year, 290 patients were
examined at the Greenwich and Deptford Hospital. Of these.,
210 were adults, and 80 children. The parts examined were
Chest 272, Other 18.