Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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DISABILITY GROUPS | Sex | Number at 31.12.68 | Additions during yr. | Deletions during yr. | Number at 31.12.69 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amputation | M | 72 | 21 | 6 | 87 |
F | 31 | 4 | 7 | 28 | |
Rheumatism | M | 61 | 8 | 14 | 55 |
F | 326 | 64 | 35 | 355 | |
Deformities | M | 23 | 2 | 9 | 16 |
F | 25 | 1 | 9 | 17 | |
Systemic Diseases | M | 52 | 19 | 10 | 61 |
F | 48 | 13 | 9 | 52 | |
Injuries and Diseases | M | 44 | 8 | – | 52 |
F | 66 | 14 | 4 | 76 | |
Organic Nervous Diseases | M | 197 | 50 | 12 | 235 |
F | 214 | 45 | 8 | 251 | |
Neurosis | M | 6 | – | – | 6 |
F | 8 | 1 | – | 9 | |
Tuberculosis | M | 11 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
F | 2 | 1 | – | 3 | |
Other | M | 25 | 13 | 4 | 34 |
F | 58 | 10 | 1 | 67 | |
Total | M | 491 | 123 | 60 | 554 |
F | 778 | 153 | 73 | 858 | |
Grand Totals | 1269 | 276 | 133 | 1412 |
Reference to table (iv) shows that although the number of
registrations viz. 1,412, is an increase of 143 over the figure for the
previous year, there were actually 276 new registrations during the
current year with 133 deletions. A rise of new registrations of this
order gives evidence of the drive to make our registers more
comprehensive than hitherto.
It is true that, at the moment, the majority of cases coming to
the notice of the department and those already on our register of
handicapped persons have well established handicaps, many of
which are either static or becoming progressively more severe.
However, this should not deter us from taking a preventive attitude
wherever possible and a patient being discharged from hospital
with a residual disability gives the department an opportunity of
being involved at an early and formative stage, so that even the
patient's attitude towards his own disability can be influenced to
his benefit.
Clubs and Centres
Two centres and a number of clubs are organised for the blind
and other handicapped persons with the object of ensuring, so far
as is practicable, the intermingling of persons with differing