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

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London County Council 1936

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

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34
considered practicable home visiting is undertaken. In cases where default is due
to inability to attend through lack of means, bus or tram fares are paid.
Pathology
and
bacteriology.

Another point worthy of note is the total number of examinations made of pathological specimens. Comparative figures for the twenty years are shown in the following table:—

YearFrom treatment centresFrom medical practitionersYearFrom treatment centresFrom medical practitioners
191713,9883,6491927107,51227,046
191825,9736,3801928107,41029,785
191951,55410,4641929114,84032,605
192058,92014,0271930125,17733,309
192166,13418,4721931161,09235,498
192274,02219,8361932196,35740,626
192369,78424,4031933219,85239,649
192479,00524,7971934261,11637,286
1925106,06426,3461935255,40338,354
1926100,54327,5651936263,05037,748

The use made by medical practitioners of the facilities for the examination of
pathological specimens is highly satisfactory.
Under the scheme, medical practitioners who fulfil certain conditions are entitled
to free supplies of the approved arsenobenzene preparations for the treatment of
their private patients. The number of medical practitioners within the county
availing themselves of this service is now 556, compared with 108 at the end of
1917, the first year of the operation of the scheme.
Venereal
disease;
hostel
accommodation.
From the outset the necessity was recognised for accommodation where young
women under treatment could be lodged during the period of infectivity,
and where various interests and occupations could be provided. Certain
hostels managed by, or independently of, hospitals have received grants-in-aid for
this purpose, and experience has proved the value of these hostels for the more
efficient treatment of certain cases and for preventing the spread of disease. During
the year 1936, the number of patients dealt with at these institutions from the
areas in the scheme was 229, the aggregate number of days in residence being 23,496.
Comparative figures for 1935 were 266 and 28,727.
The hostels undertaking work in connection with the scheme for the year 1936,
were as follows:—
20-22, Highbury-quadrant, N. (Royal Free Hostels Committee); 148, Lambethroad,
S.E. (St. Thomas' hospital); 35, Parkhurst-road, N. (West London Mission);
62, Regent's-park-road, N.W. (Royal Free Hostels Committee); Salvation Army
Hostels, 122-124 and 126-128, Lower Clapton-road, E.
Rescue
homes.
The desirability of maintaining treatment and observation of girls and women
for whom residence in hostels has been provided during the acute stages of venereal
disease, engaged the attention of the Public Health Committee of the Council during
the year 1928. As a result, arrangements were made with the authorities of certain
rescue homes providing vocational training in domestic and other work, to receive up
to eleven young women and girls who, although requiring continued treatment and
observation, had been certified by the medical officer of a clinic as fit to reside in an
institution without danger to other residents. These arrangements were completed
in the autumn of 1928. but have not been utilised to the extent anticipated despite
several circulars to V.D. clinics and hostels.
The
London
County
Council
(Whitechapel)
clinic.
On 1st July, 1930, the venereal diseases clinic at the London hospital, one
of the institutions in the London and Home Counties scheme, was taken over by
the Council as an all-day clinic, and is now known as the London County Couneil
(Whitechapel) clinic. The premises are rented from the London hospital, but the
staff is appointed and the clinic maintained entirely by the Council. It remains