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

View report page

London County Council 1913

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

This page requires JavaScript

144
Annual Report of the London County Council, 1913.
larger premises at 12, Grayshott-road, Battersea, and have provided facilities for dental treatment of
1,540 cases a year on the usual conditions. This centre has been exceptionally well attended since
the opening, and arrangements have been made for the attendance of 1,320 new cases requiring
nursing treatment annually. The doctor visits the centre on two sessions a week, and two nurses are
in daily attendance.
(31) Wandsworth centre, 315, Garratt-lane, Wandsworth.—This centre was established in
January, 1911, shortly after that started at Norwood, by a committee of local medical practitioners.
Although the accommodation is somewhat limited, the arrangements for the reception and treatment
of the children are very satisfactory. The present agreement provides for the treatment of 880 eye
cases, 880 ear, nose and throat cases, 220 ringworm eases, 660 "minor ailments" cases and 2,200 dental
cases. The ringworm cases are not treated at Garratt-lane, but at the private house of Dr. Macrory,
at Bridge-road, Battersea, but with the opening of the new centre contemplated at Tooting the use
of the Battersea premises will be discontinued. The centre is widely known among the parents in the
district, and no difficulty is experienced in securing the attendance of the children. The present
agreement permits of the services of the anæsthetist for dental cases on one session a fortnight only.
Treatment is given on six sessions a week, and it was found impossible, under the existing conditions,
to cope with the accumulation of cases requiring gas treatment. It was, therefore, decided to allow the
services of the anæsthetist on one session a week instead of on one session a fortnight. The committee
of the centre also desired that an anæsthetist might be engaged on two sessions a week, instead of one,
in the throat department. There has been some pressure of work in this department, but it was
thought that the services of the anaesthetist were not required regularly on two sessions a week.
In the agreement, therefore, provision was made for his attendance on one day a week, and it was
arranged that extra sessions, not exceeding 15 during the year, at a rate of £1 2s. 9d. a session,
should be allowed, at such times as, in the opinion of the school medical officer, they were necessary.
(32) Western Dispensary, Rochester Row, Westminster.—This dispensary was founded in 1789,
but the premises are of recent construction and well arranged. The agreement with the Council for
the treatment of 1,540 dental cases per annum only came into force in December, 1913, so that there
has been little time to judge of the results, which promise, however, to be very satisfactory. New
methods of recording cases have been introduced here which it is hoped, after some farther
experience, may be extended to other centres.
(33) Women's Hospital for Children, 688, Harrow-road, W.—This centre is situated in a district
containing a large number of elementary schools, and is on omnibus and tramway routes which render
it accessible from most parts of Marylebone, Paddington and North Kensington. Two houses have been
adapted for the purpose, and there is a large room on the first floor where eye and aural cases are
examined. There is a small waiting room on the same floor for parents and children. When eye
cases are seen, part of this room is darkened by a curtain which can be drawn across a recess.
A small room on the ground floor is used for minor ailments, and the parents and children wait their
turn to see the doctor in an adjoining room. A third room on the ground floor is used by the nurse
for her treatment of minor ailment cases. The nurse is provided by the Paddington and St. Marylebone
District Nursing Association. The present agreement provides for the treatment annually of 500
eye cases, 500 ear, nose and throat cases, and 660 minor ailment cases.
(34) Woolwich centre.—The original centre was organised by the committee of the Woolwich
and Plumstead Cottage Hospital, and the arrangements provided for the annual treatment of 500 eye
cases and 1,000 ear, nose and throat cases. A local committee of medical practitioners have since
arranged for the establishment of a new centre at 61 and 63, Brewer Street, Woolwich, which is in a
more central position than the Cottage Hospital, and as from the 31st July, 1913, the agreement
between the Council and the committee of the hospital was terminated. The new centre is much more
conveniently situated, and the premises are commodious and well equipped. The attendance hitherto
has been very good. Treatment is provided for 440 eye, 880 aural, 176 ringworm, and 1,540 dental
cases a year. In addition daily nursing treatment is given, the agreement providing for the attendance
of 660 new cases a year.
With regard to the use made of the facilities provided by the Council for medical and dental
treatment, the following table may be of interest.

The total numbers under agreement differ somewhat from the numbers given earlier in this statement, inasmuch as they are based on the average numbers throughout the year instead of the actual numbers on the 31st December, 1913:—

Ailments.Average numbers under agreements during 1913.Numbers treated under these arrangements, during 1913.
Eyes (refraction and diseases)21,74521,464
Ear, nose and throat17,79413,618
Ringworm1,6381,646
Nursing treatment12,08210,159
Teeth27,09320,130
Totals80,35267,017

In relation to the numbers for which provision is now made these figures show that it may be
necessary to increase still further the facilities for the treatment of eye defects. On the other hand
it would appear that the number of ear, nose, and throat cases has attained a maximum, and that the
number of these defects is being steadily reduced as the result of treatment. It may be anticipated,
therefore, that no considerable increase will be necessary under this heading. With regard to