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provide some protection against the hazards of lung cancer, is still in
operation and some 18,000 men are attending the South West London
Mass X-Ray Units. Over 50 firms in Westminster are co-operating, by
making it possible for their male employees in this age group to attend
twice a year, either at their place of work, or at a convenient centre.
Sixty visits to Westminster have been made to provide this special service,
which includes those made to the Gatliff Road and Monck Street Public
Cleansing Depots, to X-ray members of the the City Council's staff.
Following the very successful survey of workers employed in catering
establishments in Soho, which was undertaken in January to June, 1960,
a further survey was carried out jointly by the Westminster Hospital
Chest Clinic and the South West London Mass X-Ray Service in 1962.
During a series of 15 visits made by the Mass X-Ray Unit, over 3,000
catering trade employees were X-rayed; a report on the results of this
survey is being prepared for publication.
During the year under review, the three Mass X-Ray Units of this
service carried out 210 visits in South West London (including Westminster),
and made 98,902 examinations. Three hundred and seventeen
cases were referred with radiological abnormalities suggestive of clinically
significant tuberculosis, and 111 were referred with radiological abnormalities
suggestive of neoplasm, requiring further study.
The last figures published by the Ministry of Health show that the
number of new cases of tuberculosis notified, which was 49,000 in 1950,
fell to 23,605 in 1960, and in the same period deaths from pulmonary
tuberculosis decreased from 10,000 to 3,105. Nevertheless, while the
figures for new cases and deaths remain as high as they are, it is important
that the subject of tuberculosis should not be overshadowed in the public
mind by spectacular diseases of greater " news value " which occur
quite infrequently, and in comparison cause a regretable, but very small
number of deaths. The South West London Mass X-Ray Service takes
the opportunity again this year, of inviting all residents of Westminster
to make full use of the facilities offered to them when a Mobile Unit is in
their district. All firms and organisations are also invited to co-operate
with the Mass X-Ray Service in the efforts being made to eliminate
tuberculosis from shops, offices, factories and catering establishments, by
the immediate notification of any known cases occurring on their premises,
so that arrangements can be made for the prompt attendance of a Mass
X-Ray Unit to X-ray all "Contacts at Work".
Welfare of Old Persons
Westminster Old People's Welfare Association
This voluntary Association, whose members include representatives
of various bodies interested in the welfare of old people, continued its
activities in the City during the year. These activities include the