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 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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More detailed information as to the conditions dealt with is given in the following table :—
| Disease. | Cases. | Visits. | Average no. of visits. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circulatory and lymphatic system | 97 | 2,746 | 28 |
| Respiratory system | 87 | 2,833 | 33 |
| Digestive, abdomen, etc. | 95 | 1,812 | 19 |
| Pelvic organs | 44 | 1,114 | 25 |
| Nervous system | 43 | 2,439 | 57 |
| Skin and underlying tissues | 151 | 6,430 | 43 |
| Bones and joints | 61 | 3,268 | 53 |
| Nose, ear and throat | 47 | 898 | 19 |
| Eye | 17 | 651 | 38 |
| Senility and debility | 41 | 1,758 | 43 |
| Diabetes | 110 | 28,807 | 262 |
| Infectious diseases | 20 | 266 | 13 |
| Unclassified | 22 | 391 | 18 |
| Total | 835 | 53,413 | 63.9 |
The average number of visits paid to diabetic patients was no less than 262.
Out of a total of 53,413 visits, more than half (28,807) were paid to diabetics. Of
the 110 diabetics, 71 were "new" cases commencing during 1934, while 39, more
than one-third, were " old " cases where treatment was continued from 1933. The
proportion of " old " cases among the non-diabetics was less than one-seventh. It
would seem that the diabetics are accumulating, and that next year a further increase
in the amount of work in the treatment of this condition may be anticipated.
A large proportion of the cases classified under "nervous system" are cases of
paralysis which accounts for the high average of visits. Included under " bones
and joints " are chronic cases of rheumatoid arthritis which raise the average considerably.
Also under " skin and underlying tissues " are included cases of bed
sores requiring dressing, which, except for this condition, would have been shown
under " senility and debility."
The following table shows the sources of reference of cases to district nursing
associations :—
| District Nursing Association. | Medical supt. of L.C.C. hospital or district medical officer. | Persons in receipt of relief. | Total. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voluntary hospital. | Private or panel doctor. | Other sources. | |||
| East London | 157 | 2 | 2 | 161 | |
| Metropolitan (St. Pancras) | 32 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 53 |
| Metropolitan (Bedford-place) | 45 | 21 | 45 | 5 | 116 |
| North London | 91 | 22 | 23 | 2 | 138 |
| South London | 150 | 22 | 22 | 7 | 201 |
| Woolwich and Plumstead | 133 | 15 | 16 | 2 | 166 |
| Total | 608 | 95 | 111 | 21 | 835 |
Many of the 111 patients under private or panel doctors were short cases. It
appears probable that these are patients on relief only for a short time, probably
owing to illness, their private doctors continuing to treat them without fee. The
remainder are persons in receipt of relief but still receiving treatment from a
National Health Insurance doctor.
The 21 cases shown under "other sources" include patients under the care of
voluntary dispensaries, infant welfare centres, etc.