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
Paddington 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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26
Dental Treatment.—Dental treatment for tuberculous persons attending either of the Tuberculosis
Dispensaries is provided at 20, Talbot Road, by the Committee of the Paddington
Tuberculosis Dispensary, in return for a payment by the Council of the sum of £90 per annum. A
Dental Surgeon is in attendance one half-day weekly.
Arrangements have also been made for the supply of dentures by the Dispensary Committee.
In connection therewith 5 patients were provided with full dentures, 3 with partial dentures, and
in 1 case repairs to dentures were carried out. The total cost was £35 5s. Od. Grants amounting to
£30 4s. Od. were made by the Council, the balance being contributed by the patients, approved
societies, or other agencies.
When patients are able to contribute towards the cost of their dentures, arrangements are
usually made for payment to be accepted by instalments.
Particulars of the dental work done during the year are shown in the subjoined table.
Summary of Dental Treatment for the Year 1936.
| Particulars of Patients. | Number of Fillings. | Number of Scalings. | Extraction Cases. | Dentures. | Number of Dressings. | Number for Advice. | Denture Visits. | Number of New Patients. | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Attendances. | Simple. | Boot. | Without Anaesthetic. | Local Administration. | Gas Administration. | Number of teeth extracted. | Upper. | Lower. | Re-models. | Repairs. | ||||||
| Women | 160 | 48 | - | 8 | - | 5 | 15 | 78 | 10 | 10 | - | - | 1 | 32 | 66 | 14 |
| Children | 106 | 50 | 3 | 2 | - | 6 | 20 | 66 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 36 | - | 16 |
| Men | 44 | 4 | - | 4 | - | 1 | 8 | 29 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | 12 | 15 | 9 |
| Total | 310 | 102 | 3 | 14 | - | 12 | 43 | 173 | 13 | 11 | - | - | 5 | 80 | 81 | 39 |
| Number of Sessions held=46. | ||||||||||||||||
Extra Nourishment.—In March the Council decided to exercise their statutory powers to provide
extra nourishment to necessitous tuberculous persons who are not in receipt of Public Assistance.
The following Scheme was adopted and the approval of the Ministry of Health obtained thereto:—
Scheme for the Provision of Extra Nourishment by the Borough Council.
1. The types of cases most suitable to be dealt with are:—
(a) Ex-Sanatorium cases, where the medical condition is such that a grant of extra
nourishment is necessary to enable the patients to recover or maintain full working
capacity.
(b) Patients, with prospects of ultimate arrest of the disease, who are awaiting admission
to sanatorium.
2. No fixed scale of income to qualify for grant. Where a grant of extra nourishment is made,
it should be a condition that the patient is not receiving public assistance and is not reasonably
able to provide the cost of extra nourishment.
3. The quantity and type of the extra nourishment to be left to the discretion of the Tuberculosis
Officers and Consultant Medical Officers.
4. Where the Tuberculosis Officers and Consultant Medical Officers consider that an immediate
grant of extra nourishment is necessary, they will transmit a certificate to the Public Health
Department, when an emergency order will be issued for a period sufficient to include the
interval which will elapse before the next meeting of the Tuberculosis Care Committee.
Extra nourishment supplied under this order to be used only by the person to whom it has
been granted.
The Medical Officer of Health will be informed if there be
(a) any change in income or address of any member of the family;
(b) any assistance received from the Relieving Officer, Unemployment Assistance Board, or
any other source.