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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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Deaths from Tuberculosis in 1936 Allocated to District of Usual Residence of Patients.
| Respiratory tuberculosis. | Non-respiratory tuberculosis. | |
|---|---|---|
| The Borough | 105 | 18 |
| North Kensington | 65 | 11 |
| South Kensington | 31 | 6 |
| No fixed abode | 9 | 1 |
| Wards. | ||
| St. Charles | 28 | 6 |
| Golborne | 20 | 2 |
| Norland | 8 | 2 |
| Pembridge | 9 | 1 |
| Holland | 9 | 1 |
| Earl's Court | 2 | 2 |
| Queen's Gate | 3 | — |
| Redcliffe | 11 | 1 |
| Brompton | 6 | 2 |
The places where the deaths from tuberculosis occurred are set forth in the following list:—
| Respiratory tuberculosis. | Non -respiratory tuberculosis. | |
|---|---|---|
| Patient's home | 25 | 1 |
| St. Mary Abbots Hospital | 11 | 2 |
| St. Charles Hospital | 42 | 6 |
| Brompton Hospital | 5 | — |
| Other institutions | 22 | 9 |
Eighty per cent, of the deaths occurred whilst the patients were undergoing residential
treatment.
The Prevention and Treatment of Tuberculosis.
In the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis there is close co-operation between the London
county council and the borough council, the latter providing the dispensary service and the former
the residential treatment.
In 1921 the borough council took over the duties of the North Kensington Voluntary Dispensary
committee, which had been in operation since 1909. In 1923 the dispensary service for
South Kensington, carried out by the Brompton Hospital Authorities, was discontinued, as it was
found difficult to co-ordinate the preventive work carried out by the borough council from two
dispensaries.
The services of the tuberculosis officer are available at the dispensary or at home consultations
and the council's women health officers visit all notified cases at frequent intervals.
A number of cases notified each year do not require or desire public medical treatment, and in
these cases the medical practitioner is communicated with and requested to supply information
regarding the patient, his environment, and what form of treatment he is receiving. This request
is acceded to in practically all cases, and a report is received every year on the patient's progress.
All statutory notified cases do not come under the tuberculosis scheme for treatment and supervision,
and only those cases receiving public medical treatment and supervision are entered on the
dispensary register, but it is gratifying to note that this register contains 80 per cent, of all cases
notified.