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
Hammersmith 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
14
It must be emphasised that this is essentially a service which
covers only those cases falling within the terms of Section 122
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
During the year 10 new cases were added to the list of
patients benefiting by the scheme and 111 certificates were
signed authorising the laundering of bed linen, etc.
Only one patient of 92 years of age died during 1954 while
receiving help, five were admitted to hospital in a much better
condition for further treatment than would otherwise have been
possible. In five other cases the service was still in operation
at the end of the year, one patient having been bedfast for over
four years, and still no sign of broken or unhealthy skin.
Despite incontinence, no patient developed bedsores after
the start of the service, although the average age of all cases
was 77.7 years.
The following are details of the service to individuals:—
| Sex and Age | Collections up to 31.12.54 | Primary Cause of Ill-health | Sequel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | 79 | 22 | Apoplexy | Admitted to Hospital |
| F | 92 | 9 | Senility | Died |
| F | 82 | 55 | Arthritis | Service still in operation |
| F | 74 | 15 | Cardiac Failure | ditto |
| F | 80 | 1 | Found collapsed | Admitted to Hospital |
| F | 83 | 5 | Prolapsed Haemorrhoids | Condition improved |
| F | 69 | 13 | Spondylitis | Service still in operation |
| F | 78 | 7 | Cerebral Haemorrhage | Admitted to Hospital |
| F | 81 | 5 | Arthritis | ditto |
| F | 68 | 4 | Apoplexy | Service still in operation |
| M | 66 | 4 | Apoplexy | ditto |
| M | 80 | 1 | Cardiac Failure | Admitted to Hospital |