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INFLUENZA
The Medical Of!icer of Health noted during the early
winter months the rise in the incidence of influenza amongst
Westr.iinr.ter residents and initiated discussions with the local
Medical War Committee, the three district nursing associations
operating in the City, the British fled Cross Society, the St. John
Ambulance Brigade and the Women's Voluntary Services in order to
explore the possibilities of ensuring adequate Medical attention and
rendering nursing assistance and domestic help in houes where there
was sickness, in view of the shortage under war co editions of such
assistance. The Minister of Health early in December suggested
certain lines of action which might be undertaken by Local Authorities
to this end.
With the assistance of the associations referred to and
other bodies, a scheme was formulated and put into operatic in the
City whereby a central office for the receipt of request for assistance
was set up at the British Red Cross Society's offices in Westminster
and a rota prepared of nursing personnel of 10th the British
Red Cross Society and the St. John Ambulance Brigade available to
render nursing assistance in the home. The requests for medical
assistance received in the central office were transmitted to the
secretary of the Local Medical War Committee and the requests for
nursing assistance were first referred to the District Cursing
Association operating in the area, who would request any further
nursing assistance from the Central Office. Any hospitals in the
City requiring such nursing assistance could likewise obtain help
through the Central Office. The requests for domestic help wore
transmitted to the Women's Voluntary Services who provided domestic
help in the home and rendered assistance with shopping, etc.
Arrangements were also made with the London County Council for the
use of ambulance services where necessary and for -he provision of
hot meals for patients through the Londoners' Meals Services.
Fortunately the number of eases requiring such assistance
were few in number and up to the clos of the year one request was
received for nursing assistance and four requests for domestic help,
all of which wwre satisfactorily dealt with.
VACCINATION
Persons vaccinated by Public Vaccinator: Primary 346
Secondary 1.1
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXMINATIONS
Diphtheria - negative 137, positive 3•
Tuberculosis - negative 13, positive 55.
TUSERCULOSIS
Pulmonary: 185 new cases, including 7 transfers and 16 non-notified
deaths.
Kon-pul:uonary: 9 now cases, including 2 transfers and 6 non-notified
deaths.
(1942 - Pulmonary: 163 new cases; lion-pulmonary: 29 new cases).