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 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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This total falls 46 short of the total number of cases owing to patients living in boarding
houses, private hotels and large private residences not being included.
The following table shows the room space per occupant for the last eight years
| 1925. | Amount of room space per occupant | |
| 1926. | ditto | |
| 1927. | ditto | |
| 1928. | ditto | .61 |
| 1929. | ditto | |
| 1930. | ditto | |
| 1931. | ditto | |
| 1932. | ditto |
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.
Examination and Systematic Supervision of Home Contacts.
There were 665 contacts traced by the dispensary service in 1932. Of these, 393 were
examined one or more times by the tuberculosis officer, 112 were examined by their own doctors
or had been recently examined at school, while 160 refused examination or failed to attend after
three appointments had been given them.
The endeavour to secure a second and subsequent examinations 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 in 1927 as dental officer,
continued to act in this capacity during 1932.
The work at the dispensary during the year is shown in the following table :—
| Dentist's attendances at the dispensary | 48 |
| Number of individual patients treated | 18 |
| Patients' attendances | 71 |
| Number of fillings | — |
| Number of extractions | 70 |
| Number of dentures arranged for | 8 |
Artificial Pneumothorax Treatment.
In recent years there has been a growing tendency for artificial pneumothorax to be prescribed
by sanatorium doctors as a routine measure in the early stages of the disease, and in 1932 the council
undertook to pay for the treatment in 25 cases at a cost of £165 18s. 6d. The corresponding
figures for 1931 were 11 and £68 5s. 0d.
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. |
|---|---|---|
| 1928 | 23 | 901 |
| 1929 | 28 | 1,327 |
| 1930 | 18 | 946 |
| 1931 | 16 | 394 |
| 1932 | 30 | 1,094 |
The nurses carry out their work splendidly and are very much appreciated by the poor.
Supply of Extra Nourishment to Tuberculous Persons.
Eight persons received extra nourishment during the year. The total amount supplied was
220 pints of milk and 220 new laid eggs, at a cost to the council of £7 9s. 0d.
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.