London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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The Following-up of Patients in Cases of Doubtful Diagnosis.
Patients often do not realise the importance of allowing the Tuberculosis Officer to complete
his diagnosis.
When a “suspect” has failed to keep an appointment, he is visited at home by a woman health
officer, who gives him a definite appointment with the Tuberculosis Officer at the dispensary so
that he will not be kept waiting. If he fails to keep this appointment, second and third visits are
paid for the same purpose, when, if of no avail, the case is dropped for the time being.
During the year there were 132 “suspect” cases. Of these, 7 were finally discovered to be
suffering from respiratory tuberculosis, and there were 31 still on the books at the end of the
year. There were no cases of non-respiratory tuberculosis. The remaining 91 were finally
discharged as non-tubercular.
Examination and Systematic Supervision of Home Contacts.
There were 740 contacts traced by the dispensary service in 1930. Of these, 423 were
examined one or more times by the Tuberculosis Officer, 132 were examined by their own doctors
or had been recently examined at school, while 185 refused examination or failed to attend after
three appointments had been given them.
The endeavour to secure a second examination of the “home contacts” of infectious cases
after approximately one year's interval, especially young adult cases whose age renders them more
vulnerable, has been continued. These examinations are not included in the above totals.
Dental Treatment of Tuberculous Persons.
Mr. A. Dreaper, l.d.s. (r.c.s.), who was appointed by the Council on the 27th September,
1927, as Dental Officer, continued to act in this capacity during 1930.
The work at the dispensary during the year is shown in the following table:—
| Dentist's attendances at the dispensary | 44 |
| Number of individual patients treated | 25 |
| Patients' attendances | 56 |
| Number of fillings | 1 |
| Number of extractions | 27 |
| Number of dentures arranged for | 10 |
Artificial Pneumothorax Treatment.
During the year the Council undertook to pay for artificial pneumothorax treatment in ten
cases and the payments amounted to £45 13s. 6d.
Home Nursing.
The cases of tuberculosis attended and the visits paid by the nurses of the Kensington District Nursing Association during the past five years are shown in the following table:—
| Year. | Cases. | Visits. |
|---|---|---|
| 1926 | 34 | 987 |
| 1927 | 22 | 804 |
| 1928 | 23 | 901 |
| 1929 | 28 | 1,327 |
| 1930 | 18 | 946 |
The nurses carry out their work splendidly and are very much appreciated by the poor.
| Number of patients assisted | 10 | |||
| Number of pints of milk granted. 105 | Number of eggs granted. 105 | |||
| Estimated cost to the Council of nourishment during the year | £3 | 14s. | 7d. | |
Arrangements for “Care” and “After Care.”
In July, 1922, the Council approved a proposal for the constitution of a Borough Tuberculosis
Care Committee, and this committee, which commenced its activities in December of that year,
undertakes all the “care” and “after-care” work in the borough.
The constitution and membership of the committee during the past year were as follow:—
(1) Borough Council—Councillor Miss E. M. Pennefather and Councillor Miss A. S.
Hayne.
(2) London County Council—Dr. A. W. Sikes, Divisional Medical Officer and Miss
G. M. S. Paddon, District Organiser of School Care Committees.
(3) Kensington School Care Committees—Miss A. Webster.
(4) Kensington Invalid Children's Aid Association—Miss M. G. Crombie and Miss M. H.
Joseph.
(5) Kensington Charity Organisation Society—Miss O. A. Nixon.