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
London County Council 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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10
20. The weekly average of direct admissions and of discharges "recovered"
remains very constant. There was an increase of 18 in the actual number of patients
admitted directly during 1923, as compared with 1922 (51 more females and 33
fewer males), a decrease of 270 in the number of deaths, and an increase of 3 in the
number of patients discharged "recovered" The total number of exits by death
and discharge "recovered" therefore was 267 less in 1923 than in 1922. But the
number of admissions must be balanced against the number of discharges. The
number of patients admitted directly (as shown in Table 9) was 3,153, and in addition
147 were admitted indirectly, i.e., by transfer from out-county mental hospitals,
making a total of 3,300. The number of discharges was 3,049 (including 600 patients
discharged "relieved," 381 discharged "not improved," 6 discharged "not insane,"
and 1 discharged by " operation of law," of whom particulars are not given in Table
9), leaving a balance of 251 entrants over exits. This number is made up of 213
more London rate-aided patients, 58 more patients on the private list, and 4 more
patients chargeable to out-county parishes or unions, less 16 fewer service patients,
5 fewer criminal patients, and 1 private ward patient and 2 private patients at
Claybury Hall fewer than at 1st January, 1923.
Patients on
the '' private
list."
Classification and chargeability of patients.
21. The usual enquiries have been made as to all patients in respect of whom
it appeared likely that there were means, and 200 patients have been found entitled
to be classified as private patients in accordance with section 3 of the Lunacy Act,
1891, the cost of maintenance being recovered from the patients' estates or secured
by undertakings to pay on the part of relatives or friends.
22. The following statement shows the action taken in regard to the classification of patients during the year ended 31st March, 1924:—
Table 10.
| Number of patients on private list on 31st March, 1923 | 240 | |
| Number of patients transferred to private list during the year ended 31st March, 1924 | 200 | |
| 440 | ||
| Of these were— | ||
| re-transferred to parish list | 7 | |
| discharged | 66 | |
| died | 32 | |
| removed to The Hall, Claybury Hospital (males) | — | |
| removed to private ward, Horton Hospital (females) | 19 | |
| removed to private institutions | 9 | |
| transferred to service (private) class | 1 | |
| — | 134 | |
| Number of patients on private list on 31st March, 1924 | 306 | |
Chargeability
of County
patients.
(These were located at Banstead 21, at Bexley 44, at Cane Hill 30, at Claybury
43, at Colney Hatch 29, at Hanwell 39, at Horton 56, and at Long Grove 44.)
23. Enquiries have been made as to settlements of all patients concerning
whom the London boards of guardians have given notice of their intention to obtain
orders adjudicating the chargeability of the patients to the County of London,
with the result that 75 new notices were received, giving, with 15 cases standing
over from last year, a total of 90 cases to be dealt with. In 19 cases settlements
were found and the notices were withdrawn, in 57 cases orders were made on the
County of London, and 14 cases are still under consideration.