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

View report page

Fulham 1962

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]

This page requires JavaScript

17
Epidemiological problems of this character are discussed with the clinic staff each week at
a staff meeting The dangers inherent in tuberculosis as a public health problem has to be kept
continuously in mind, and too much reliance must not be placed on chemotherapy as the great
deterrent. It is important to remember, as the Scandinavian countries have continuously emphasised,
that the high standard of living and full employment in this and other countries has played an
important role in the fall in the incidence of this disease. If we have to look forward to the
possibility of a period of low standards and unemployment, it is important to remember that as
long as there are open infectious cases of tuberculosis in our community (or liable to enter
from abroad) a very serious public health risk remains, with more children leaving school Mantoux
negative. This means that more young people are entering working life without having had the
'experience' either of a natural infection or the artificial infection of B.C.G. vaccination, hence
the population at risk is increasing. This makes every known or unknown patient excreting
tubercle bacilli potentially more dangerous.
AFTER CARE
There are many problems raised by illness, including the care of the children if the mother
has to be admitted to hospital, and financial help if it is the father who is ill. Sometimes a man
may have to change his job or be retrained in another, and the Disablement Resettlement Officer
is contacted. Recuperative holidays are arranged through the Divisional Health Office for those
who have been ill, and extra nourishment for those struggling to manage on a very low income.
Patients are visited in their homes and at Hurlingham Lodge by the Occupational Therapist,
and make a very wide variety of things. Rugs, coffee tables, linen-ware, toys and at the moment
there are two patients who are very interested in painting. The Pottery Unit still has two classes
a week, and the patients are producing some very good and varied things.
The Fulham T.B. Care Committee gives help on many occasions - help with extra comforts
for very sick patients, clothing, fares for relatives to visit, and several loans to help tide over a
patient and his family in an emergency.
One of the main problems is still housing, which means that only too many of our patients
are living in damp rooms, or with long flights of stairs to manage, or insufficient room. Applications
are made to the L.C.C. and Borough Housing Departments and a few of our patients have
been rehoused.

RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN FULHAM

DeathsMalesFemalesTotal Deaths
Tuberculosis195822830
195920121
196016117
1961819
196222426
Bronchitis19588044124
19598747134
1960522981
1961603999
19627539114
Lung Cancer1958701484
1959801696
1960722395
1961692695
1962651277