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
City of Westminster 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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44
The variation from year to year in the proportions from each source
is not great. The increase in the number referred by the Health Visitors
is in part due to the fact that rather more contact cases were available
for examination. An increase in the number of cases first seen in St.
Stephen's Hospital may be noted.
The value of the arrangement whereby the Tuberculosis Officer
visits the wards of the hospital has been stressed in previous reports.
This is of increasing importance as there has been a greater tendency
in the last few years for medical practitioners to send definite cases of
tuberculosis direct to County Council General Hospitals. This method
is particularly useful for persons in crowded homes or temporary lodgings,
as they commence treatment and are removed from contact with others
at the earliest possible time. The Tuberculosis Officer comes in touch
with these cases in the Hospital and after an initial period of rest they
pass on to a Sanatorium if suitable for such treatment.
The following table gives certain details of the work of the Dispensary during 1936 and the four preceding years Table XLVII.
| 1932. | 1933 | 1934. | 1935. | 1936. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New patients attending | 484 | 412 | 462 | 425 | 456 |
| Old patients attending | 477 | 430 | 473 | 472 | 494 |
| New contacts examined | 105 | 126 | 109 | 108 | 127 |
| Individual attendances | 961 | 842 | 935 | 897 | 950 |
| Total attendances | 2,321 | 2,165 | 2,615 | 2,454 | 2,393 |
| Written reports to public authorities and medical practitioners | 1,228 | 1,090 | 1,066 | 1,064 | 1,108 |
| Home visits | 73 | 82 | 67 | 73 | 109 |
| Consultations with medical practitioners | 132 | 117 | 153 | 145 | 131 |
| Visits by health visitors to dispensary eases | 3,373 | 3,404 | 3,526 | 3,335 | 2,885 |
| Sputum examinations | 225 | 164 | 193 | 171 | 187 |
| X-ray examinations | 42 | 61 | 60 | 78 | 100 |
The number of contacts examined shows a slight increase in proportion
to the total number of new cases. It has previously been pointed out
that the number of available contacts is relatively low in Westminster,
owing to the large number of single persons living in lodgings or hostels,
and of persons living-in at their places of employment. There
seems reason to feel that the proportion of cases from this group is
increasing.