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

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Lewisham 1970

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

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Table 34

TUBERCULOSIS NOTIFICATIONS AT AGES

Age periodsNew cases notifiedTotals
RespiratoryNon-Respiratory
MFMFMF
0-
1-
2-1212
5-12122
10-
15-43153
20-54357
25-971107
35-1131114
45-2031204
55-2021203
65-8585
75+52153
TOTALS8433378740

CHEST CLINIC, LEWISHAM
I am indebted to Dr. M. Farquharson for the following report concerning the Chest
Clinic at Blagdon Road, of which she is the consultant physician:—
The number of new patients seen and examined at the clinic has remained relatively
constant for some years.
In 1970 there were 1,948 new patients, comprising 994 men, 779 women and 175
children. The total clinic attendances were 18,646, and almost 6,000 patients were
sent for chest x-rays by their general practitioners.
New notifications of tuberculosis in the Lewisham area were 67, this figure showing
no appreciable change in the last four years. Fifty-two of these patients attended at
the chest clinic (28 men, 21 women and 3 children). The tuberculosis register has
gradually diminished and is now 1,008.
B.C.G. vaccinations have been given to 153 contacts.
One of our tuberculosis health visitors left last August and we now have two
health visitors and a clinic nurse. During the year 2,517 visits were made.
There is no diminution in the wide variety of acute and chronic respiratory
diseases, including asthma, seen and investigated at the clinic.
The position with regard to carcinoma of the lung is disturbing. Our recent
findings indicate that only about 10 per cent, of our patients are operable. This year
has shown an increase in new cases of cancer of the lung found, and a noteworthy
increase in the proportion of women affected (1970—22 percent.; 1967—7 per cent.).
CHEST CLINIC, DEPTFORD
I am indebted to Dr. J. P. V. Rigby for the following report concerning the Chest
Clinic at Harton Street, of which he is consultant physician:—
The Tuberculosis Register still numbers almost a thousand in the Deptford
area, well over 900 of these people being respiratory cases, and the majority of these
males, possibly owing to the closeness of Carrington House, the common lodging
71