Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]
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It was decided in September that the numbers who found it convenient to journey to
the Western Hospital did not justify opening the Centre every day of the week, and
regular x-ray sessions are now held every Wednesday from 2.0 p.m - 4.0 p.m and 5.0
p.m. - 7.0 p.m. This has freed a mobile unit to make more visits in South West London.
MASS MINIATURE RADIOGRAPHY
(Information kindly supplied by the Registrar-General)
The following figures relate to the number of Fulham residents X-rayed by any unit
in England and Wales.
It is gratifying to note the marked increase in 1957, which may be related to the South Western Mass X-Ray Unit, now being based in the Borough at the Western Hospital.
| Year | Males | Females | Percentage of population examined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 4,140 | 4,970 | 7.7% |
| 1956 | 4,850 | 3,820 | 7.4% |
| 1957 | 6,570 | 5,200 | 10.1% |
EXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF DR. H.C. PRICE
CHEST PHYSICIAN, FULHAM CHEST CLINIC, 1957
The general trend in the tuberculosis statistics noted in recent years has continued;
the slight rise in the number of new cases noted last year did not continue
and the numbers have fallen from 142 to 124. This latter number, however, is still
above the 111 recorded for 1955. In spite of this fall in the number of new cases
the number of contacts attending showed little change, being 2,424 in 1957 compared
with 2,493 in 1956.
In 1956 whereas more females were found to be suffering from tuberculosis than
males 73 females to 69 males - in the year under review the ratio returned to normal
for the borough, with the figures for the males (74) higher than for females (50).
The number of new patients with non-tuberculous disease referred to this clinic
(231) showed little change compared with the previous figure (237). This figure
includes the 52 additional new cases referred for the bronchitis trials
The total attendance figures for non-tuberculous cases rose from 922 to 1,660 for
the same reason
The total attendances for tuberculous patients tended to fall, entirely due to the
running down and final closing of the A.P. clinic sessions. This fall has been masked
by the increasing attendances at the non-tuberculous sessions.
The number of deaths has increased somewhat this year from 22 to 38. This can be
accounted for by the number of chronic tuberculous patients suffering from severe bronchitis
and emphysema who died during the winter which was more severe than that of 1956.
For the first occasion for many years, the clinic has had an almost unchanged
staff of health visitors who have been able to increase the number of home visits from
4,404 to 6,330 which is double the 1955 figure. This has resulted in a great increase
in the amount of child contact, observation and follow-up work done.
After care
The realistic lead given by the council of the N.A.P.T. in changing its terms of
reference to include non-tuberculous lung disease and diseases of the heart has been
followed by the After Care Committee of the Fulham Chest Clinic, with the result that a
considerable number of patients who suffer from acute bronchiolitis during the winter
months have been sent away for convalescent holidays of up to 4 weeks in duration.