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 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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71
This total falls 40 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 ten years:—
| Year. | Rooms per occupant. |
|---|---|
| 1925 | 0·55 |
| 0·58 | |
| 0·59 | |
| 0·67 | |
| 1930 | 0·73 |
| 1931 | 0·70 |
| 1932 | 0·67 |
| 1933 | 0·77 |
| 0·70 |
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 his 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 611 contacts traced by the dispensary service in 1934. Of these, 387 were
examined one or more times by the tuberculosis officer, 111 were examined by their own doctors
or had been recently examined at school, and 113 refused examination or failed to attend after
three appointments had been given them.
Eighty-nine of the patients notified during the year had no home contacts.
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 1934.
The work at the dispensary during the year is shown in the following table:—
| Dentist's attendances at the dispensary | 52 | Number of fillings | 9 | |
| Number of individual patients treated | 47 | Number of extractions | 50 | |
| Patients' attendances | 125 | Number of dentures arranged for | 9 | |
Artificial Pneumothorax Treatment.
In 1934 the council undertook to pay for the treatment in 26 cases at a cost of £134 18s. 6d. The
corresponding figures for 1933 were 32 and £182 14s. Od.
| Year. | Cases. | Visits. |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 946 | |
| 1931 | 394 | |
| 1932 | 30 | 1,094 |
| 1933 | 23 | 1,259 |
| 1934 | 32 | 1,319 |
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
84 pints of milk and 84 new laid eggs, at a cost to the council of £1 10s. l£d.
Arrangements for Care and After Care.
In 1922 the council established a tuberculosis care committee, whose primary duty is to undertake
the care and after care of patients in the borough suffering from tuberculosis. The care committee
have also carried out the assessment of patients admitted to London county council sanatoria, and
this duty has constituted a considerable portion of their work.
In July, 1934, the county council resolved that in future no contributions should be required
from patients, or persons legally responsible for them, towards the cost of the residential treatment
of tuberculosis (except in respect of dentures provided during treatment), or towards the cost of the