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

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City of Westminster 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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45
The value of the arrangement whereby the Tuberculosis Officer visits
the wards of St. Stephen's 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.
A rearrangement of duties, whereby the consulting work is shared with
the Tuberculosis Officer of another Borough has resulted in some decrease
in the total number of patients seen, but endeavour is made to keep in
touch with all Westminster cases.

The following table gives certain details of the work of the Dispensary during 1937 and the four preceding years:—

Table XLVII.

1933.1934.1935.1936.1937.
New patients attending412462425456405
Old patients attending430473472494497
New contacts examined126109108127114
Individual attendances84293.1897950902
Total attendances2,1652,6152,4542,3932.141
Written reports to Medical Practitioners and Public Authorities1,0901,0661,0641,1081,171
Home Visits82677310995
Consultations with Medical Practitioners117153145131113
Visits by Health Visitors to Dispensary Cases3,4043,5263,3352,8852,915
Sputum Examinations164193171187162
X-Ray Examinations616078100123

Patients have been recommended for institutional treatment from the Dispensary as follows:—

Table XLVIII.

Hospitals.Sanatoria.
Insured Males2255
Insured Females1130
Uninsured Males02
Uninsured Females19
Boys02
Girls22
36100