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
Hampstead 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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8
Sanitary Condition.
TABLE V
| Sanitary Condition | No.of Cases | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Clean | 108 | 57 |
| Fair | 39 | 21 |
| Dirty | 24 | 13 |
| Insanitary | 18 | 9 |
| Total | 189 | 100 |
As one of the factors that must be investigated before any
legal proceedings under Section 47 of the National Assistance
Act, 1948 can be taken, is the sanitary condition, especial
interest is attached to Table V. 9 per cent, were definitely
insanitary and another 13 per cent, dirty, making a combined total
of 22 per cent. 57 per cent, on the other hand were considered to
be clean. It might at first be thought that this proportion is
rather high, when it is considered that there is a tendency to
refer only the more difficult cases to the department. Perhaps
part of the explanation is that in 22 per cent, of all cases the
home help service was already attending at the time of the first
visit (see Table VI).
Services considered necessary.
TABLE VI
| Services in attendance at time of first visit | Services Required | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No.of Cases | Percentage | No.of Cases | Percentage | |
| Home Help | 41 | 22 | 38 | 19 |
| District Nurse | 41 | 22 | 13 | 6.5 |
| Mobile Meals | 24 | 12.5 | 11 | 5.5 |
| Hospital | 83 | 42 | ||
| Home | 37 | 18.5 | ||
| N.A.B. | 1 | .5 | ||
| D.A.O. | 16 | 8 | ||
| Action under S.47 | – | – | ||
| Total | 106 | 56.5 | 199x | 100 |
x The excess is due to some patients requiring more than one
service.
Table VI shows the services in attendance and services considered
necessary at the time of the first visit. 22 per cent, of the cases
were already being attended by the Home Help Service and 22 per cent,
by the District Nurse. Frequently, the department was summoned
because it was considered to be impossible to continue treatment at
home, and help was sought to expedite admission to hospital. This is