London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
- 77 -
Residential particulars of other cases notified during the year:-
| Patients who had resided in London all their lives or for at least 10 years | 35 |
| Patients who had resided in other parts of the country all their lives prior to coming to Kensington | 39 |
| Patients from whom information concerning origin was not obtained but where it is believed to be this country | 6 |
| Patients notified abroad before coming to this country (Ireland?) | 2 |
| Patients who resided here at least 10 years prior to notification | 21 |
| Patients from whom information concerning origin could not be obtained | 106 |
| Total: | 209 |
The investigations only covered patients newly notified, or
transferring into the borough from other areas. The total of 253
cases surveyed differs from the total of tuberculous patients visited
in the year. The difference consisted of old cases changing
residence within the borough.
In 1951, a full survey was not made, but it was estimated
that 20 per cent. of the tuberculous patients visited for the first
time in that year were immigrants who contracted the disease within
ten years of arrival in this country.
A more accurate investigation in the following years indicated that, of the new cases and "inward transfers" reported in the borough, the proportions who were immigrants contracting the disease in the first ten years of arrival, were as follows:-
| Year | Proportion | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| per cent. | |||
| 1952 | 16 | ||
| 1953 | 10 | ||
| 1954 | 16 | ||
| 1955 | 17 | ||
| 1956 | 15 | ||
| 1957 | 16 | ||
| 1958 | 23 | ||
| 1959 | 20 | ||
| 1960 | 20 | ||
| 1961 | 11 |
This year, 55 per cent. (1960-39 per cent.) of the infected
immigrants contracted the disease within one year of arrival in this
country; 69 per cent. (1960-73 per cent.) contracted it within three
years of arrival. Persons born in the Republic of Ireland were
regarded as immigrants for this purpose.
The 1951 Census figures showed that out of a total
Kensington population of 168,160, there were 29,353 residents (or
just over 17 per cent.) who were born outside the United Kingdom and
the Republic of Ireland.
Whooping Cough
Thirty cases were notified during the year. No deaths
were reported during 1961.