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 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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The following table shows the number of cases added to and the number removed from the notification register during the year:-
| Description | Respiratory | NonRespiratory | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | F | ||
| On register of notifications on 1st January, 1960 | 851 | 698 | 74 | 98 | 1721 |
| Notified for the first time during the year | 76 | 71 | 5 | 12 | 164 |
| Brought to notice other than by notification | 99 | 78 | 3 | 7 | 187 |
| Removed from register on account of having - | |||||
| (a) recovered from the disease | 55 | 43 | 2 | 5 | 105 |
| (b) removed from district, lost sight of, etc. | 167 | 139 | 10 | 13 | 329 |
| (c) died | 14 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 23 |
| Remaining on register on 51st December, 1960 | 790 | 658 | 69 | 98 | 1615 |
The system of investigation into the environmental conditions of tuberculosis patients continued during the year. All
newly notified cases and those cases transferring into Kensington
or changing their address in the borough, have been visited by the
public health inspectors with the object of tracing the source of
infection, preventing the spread of infection and removing conditions favourable to infection. Particular attention was given
to the home conditions in addition to the dissemination of advice
to prevent the transmission of infection to contacts.
During the year, 374 visits were paid to the homes of
tuberculous patients. In 211 of these, the environmental
conditions were such as to require no further action on the part
of the public health department; in a further 49 cases, it was
found that the patients had moved away; and in 47 other cases the
investigations were postponed as the patients were away in
hospital or had not been contacted by the end of the year. The
action taken in the remaining 67 cases is summarised as follows:-
Action taken Cases
Investigation or supervision
undertaken in respect of:-
(a) re-arrangement of existing
accommodation 2
(b) occupation of patients 4
(c) tracing of contacts 4
(d) prevention of spread of
infection 39
Recommended for priority rehousing 8
Action taken under Public Health
and Housing Acts in respect of
insanitary or unhealthy conditions 10