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
Tower Hamlets 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tower Hamlets, London Borough]
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The pattern of help has now changed over the past year. Tuberculosis,
lung cancer and chronic bronchitis are still the main groups which show a
need for help beyond that which can be satisfied from statutory sources.
The Chest Clinic Care Committee at the London Chest Hospital is fulfilling
this important task, and I am grateful to all its members for the part they
are playing."
HEALTH CONTROL OF IMMIGRANTS
During the year 581 advice notes of immigrant arrivals were received in the
department from various ports of entry, and succsssful contact was made in 365 instances.
Of the remaining 216 some had moved to addresses outside the borough, and details were
forwarded to the authority concerned, but the majority were either not known or had
never arrived at the address given.
One immigrant suffering from tuberculosis was admitted on condition that she
reported to the Medical Officer of Health for examination. Arrangements were made
for her to attend a Chest Clinic.
The annual return received from the Venereal Disease Clinic at the London Hospital shows the new cases attending the clinic during the year to be as follows:-
| Area of Residence | Syphilis | Gonorrhoea | Other Conditions | Total | (1971) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tower Hamlets | 47 | 422 | 2,003 | 2,472 | (2 , 497) |
| Other London Boroughs | 100 | 1,123 | 6,014 | 7, 237 | (6,856) |
| Other Areas | 17 | 110 | 1,051 | 1, 178 | (1,144) |
| TOTAL | 164 | 1,655 | 9,068 | 10,887 | ( 10 , 497) |
Returns received from 7 other hospitals in London of new patients attending their
clinics during the year showed that 254 were residents of Tower Hamlets, comprising 4
syphilis 27 gonorrhoea and 223 other venereal conditions.
Two welfare officers appointed by the Council work from the Whitechapel Clinic
under the direction of Dr. E.M.C. Dunlop, M.D., F.R.C.P., Senior Physician to the Department
for tracing contacts and following up defaulters.
Dr. Dunlop reports as follows
"During 1972 we dealt with 164 new cases of syphilis (1971-197),
with 1,655 cases of gonorrhoea (1971-1,891), other genital infections and
other conditions totalled 9,068 (1971-8,409). The total of new cases for the
year was 10,887 (1971-10,497).
It is gratifying that the numbers of cases of both syphi1is and gonorrhoea
have declined. The increased use of the Clinic by the community is shown by
the rise in the number of cases of other infections, so that total attendances
for the year were some 400 greater than for the previous year.
Total attendances for Tower Hamlets (2,472) shows little change (1971
- 2,497). There were 47 cases of syphilis (1971-69, 422 of gonorrhoea
(1971 - 476) and 2,003 of other conditions (1971 - 1951) Thus for Tower
Hamlets as for the total work of the Department, there has been a decline in
gonorrhoea and in syphilis, and an increase in the other conditions. The
effectivity of contact tracing has contributed materially to this decline in
gonorrhoea and syphilis."
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