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
Islington 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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27
The Centre was officially opened in February 1952. It was originally intended to
provide X-ray facilities for all those living and working in the Borough of Islington
Within a year, however, not only Doctors practising in Islington but also practitioners
from the neighbouring boroughs of St, Pancras, Hornsey, Stoke Newington, Shoreditch,
Hackney and Hampstead were making use of the facilities of the Centre. In the course of
the years, doctors' referrals increased in number until their percentage attendance of
the total rose from 19% in 1952 to 50% in 196L
The figures in the table below give an analysis of the results obtained during the last decade. (This includes Islington referrals but covers a much larger area).
| Total | Doctors' Referrals | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. X-rayed | 300,713 | 118, 657 | 40,0 |
| Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis | 1,734 | 1, 191 | 68.0 |
| Rate per 1, 000 | 5,7 | 10.0 | - |
| Cancer of the lung | 632 | 569 | 90.0 |
| Rate per 1, 000 | 2. 1 | 4.8 | - |
The high discovery rate of active Pulmonary Tuberculosis, 50% of which proved to be
sputum positive, illustrates the epidemiological value of what has been achieved. The fact
that doctors' referrals yielded 68% of active Tuberculosis, while forming only 40% of those
X-rayed, points to the importance of radiological examination of persons from this source.
The total number of cases discovered decreased slowly over the years, but is still too
high for complacency: (166 in 1961).
The figures for lung cancer show a high incidence in the area served by the X-ray
centre, particularly among doctors' referrals, who produced 90% of the cases. Although the
resection rate was only about 20%, it seems that the earlier an X-ray is taken in men over
40 with chest symptoms, the greater the chance of operability of the growth.
The value of the X-ray facilities at Drayton Park can be measured not only by the
detection of serious lung disease, but also by the frequent finding of transient acute
inflammatory conditions of the lungs; during the past decade 1, 510 pneumonias were
diagnosed, quite often in patients with only upper respiratory or influenza-like symptoms.
In addition to these positive findings, it is hoped that the thousands of negative reports have also assisted the General Practitioner in his daily clinical work.
| 1961 | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| No of persons X-rayed | 6,041 | 5,964 | 12, 005 |
| No. of cases | 44 | 37 | 81 |
| Rate per 1, 000 | 7.3 | 6. 2 | 6.7 |
Tuberculosis Care Committee
The London County Council is responsible for care and after care work under Section 28
of the National Health Service Act, 1946, but the Islington Tuberculosis Care Committee
remains in being, working in conjunction with the Islington Chest Clinic, and Members of
the Borough Council and the Medical Officer of Health serve on this Committee. The Tuberculosis
Care Committee is able to assist patients in many ways, and the Tuberculosis Care
Organiser reports that an average of 89 cases per quarter were helped with extra nourishment
during the year, while Joans of beds, bedding and medical appliances were made to 2 (two)
patients from the L.C.C. loan stock, others were referred to various organisations for
assistance.