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
Greenwich 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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The aim of these clinics remains unchanged, i.e. to offer a routine
medical examination to old people who think they are in good
health and have not seen their doctor for some time.
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| New cases | 21 | 100 |
| Re-attendances | 8 | 26 |
| Total | 29 | 126 |
A total of 135 old people were seen during the year of which 95
required some treatment or advice. Forty were found to be fit and
amongst them was an elderly gentleman who had last seen a doctor
28 years ago, and a 75-year-old lady who had last seen her doctor
in 1927!
The most frequently found defects requiring referral elsewhere
were blood pressure, visual defects, hearing defects and depression.
| Found to be Fit | 40 |
| Referred to General Practitioner | 51 |
| Referred to Dentist | 6 |
| Referred to Optician | 11 |
| Referred to Chiropodist | 5 |
| Total Attendances | 135 |
During this year the routine examination of patients' height,
weight, eyesight, hearing, blood pressure and urine was extended
to include a routine test for anaemia. Unfortunately, the method
used was not found to give consistent results and had to be
abandoned.
| Hypertension | 11 |
| Hearing Defects | 9 |
| Depression | 9 |
| Hernia | 2 |
| Sugar in Urine | 5 |
| Warts requiring removal | 3 |
| Congestive Heart Failure | 1 |
| Vit. B deficiency | 1 |
| Total | 41 |