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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47
Hall, and their disposal then determined; 1,381 were referred to observation
hospitals for admission as a preliminary step to their disposal; 1,637 were accepted
for admission direct to institutions without previous observation or examination,
and in 68 cases the applications for various reasons were not proceeded with. In
288 of the cases for residential treatment, the patients for various reasons failed
to enter observation hospitals or other institutions, and their applications were
treated as withdrawn. In 145 other cases treatment was not commenced before
the end of the year.
As a general principle, the cases passed through the observation beds are
patients in whom the diagnosis has not been confirmed by the presence of tubercle
bacilli in the sputum; patients with acute symptoms ; and patients with wellmarked
disease whose suitability for sanatorium treatment can be determined only
after a few weeks' close observation. Cases examined at the County Hall are those
in which the diagnosis has been confirmed by the presence of tubercle bacilli in the
sputum and which appear, from their reports, to be suitable for sanatorium treatment,
and cases of surgical tuberculosis. Cases sent direct to sanatoria are chiefly
applicants for further treatment, whose condition and prospects are already known.
Action taken with regard to adult patients examined at the County Hall during
1923
Observation hospital. Sanatorium. Home for advanced cases. Not accepted. Total.
253 977 45 185 1,460
During the year 1,741 patients were discharged from observation hospitals
nnrl 3,952 from othrt institutions
The classification of the 1,741 patients discharged after observation in hospitals :
| Classification—Group A | 363 cases | or 24.90% |
|---|---|---|
| „ B.1 | ||
Action taken with regard to 1,458 cases in which tuberculosis was diagnosed, compared with the figures for 1922 :—
| Year. | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1923. | 1922. | |
| — | ||
At the commencement of 1923 the Council had in use 655 beds for children in
hospitals and sanatoria, of which 178 were in voluntary institutions and 477 in
Metropolitan Asylums Board institutions. The number of cases under treatment
on 31st December, 1923, was 707 (195 in voluntary institutions and 512 in Metropolitan
Asylums Board institutions). On 1st January, 1923, 340 boys and 315
girls were under treatment and 403 boys and 346 girls were sent away during the
year. The total number treated during the year 1923 was, therefore, 1,404, as
Tuberculous
children.
10976
D 2