London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Greenwich 1969

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]

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(iv) Additions and Removals—Physically Handicapped Register

DISABILITY GROUPSSexNumber at 31.12.68Additions during yr.Deletions during yr.Number at 31.12.69
AmputationM7221687
F314728
RheumatismM6181455
F3266435355
DeformitiesM232916
F251917
Systemic DiseasesM52191061
F4813952
Injuries and DiseasesM44852
F6614476
Organic Nervous DiseasesM1975012235
F214458251
NeurosisM66
F819
TuberculosisM11258
F213
OtherM2513434
F5810167
TotalM49112360554
F77815373858
Grand Totals12692761331412

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