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 1942
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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provided at Hackney Hospital was closed, and wards opened for such cases at the
Eastern Hospital.
A unit for early non-infectious cases of tuberculosis and cases of pleural effusion
was opened at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, in January, 1942.
Children's
hospitals
The return of children to London resulted in much fuller use being made during
the year of the accommodation provided in the children's hospitals.
Hospitals for
epileptics
The two hospitals for epileptics continued to provide treatment as before the
war. The number of patients undergoing treatment remained fairly constant.
Convalescent
hospitals
The scheme whereby the Council makes grants to the Invalid Children's Aid
Association towards the cost of providing accommodation for convalescent children
continued. No accommodation for convalescent children was available in the
Council's hospitals. Princess Mary's Convalescent Hospital, Margate, remained
closed throughout the year and only a restricted amount of accommodation for adult
convalescent patients was available at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup. A small
number of adult male and female convalescent patients were sent to voluntary
convalescent homes.
Other
hospitals
The Northern, Southern and Joyce Green Hospitals continued to serve a useful
function in receiving large numbers of patients from the inner hospitals. During
1942, 8,264 civilian patients were received into these three hospitals as transfers,
mostly from other Council hospitals.
Venereal
diseases
Beds for patients suffering from venereal disease were provided at Sheffield
Street, Bethnal Green and St. Charles' Hospitals. Accommodation was also provided
at Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton, for children suffering from vulvovaginitis.
Admissions
to publio
health
hospitals
The numbers of patients admitted during 1942, compared with 1938 and 1941, are shown below:—
| 1938 | 1941 | 1942 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute general hospitals | 173,796 | 107,813* | 125,782* |
| Chronic sick hospitals | 10,014‡ | 5,696 | 5,090 |
| Convalescent hospitals (adults) | 4,698 | — | — |
| „ „ (children) | 4,257 | — | — |
| Convalescent fever hospitals | 2,942 | 13,614† | 15,363† |
| Acute fever hospitals (fever) | 33,159 | 16,347 | 20,107 |
| „ „ „ (general medical) | — | 2,601 | 2,518 |
| „ ,, „ (tuberculosis) | — | 262 | |
| Tuberculosis hospitals (tuberculosis) | 4,163 | 2,553 | 2,998 |
| „ „ (general medical) | — | 920 | 1,055 |
| Children's hospitals | 5,489 | 4,097 | 4,277 |
| Post-encephalitis lethargica unit | 49 | 29 | 44 |
| Venereal diseases hospitals | 801 | 376 | 516 |
| Epileptic hospitals | 237 | 186 | 170 |
| Total | 239,605 | 154,232 | 178,182 |
* Includes Queen -Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, † Hospitals devoted now wholly to non-fever purposes.
‡ Includes 802 patients in social welfare establishments.
Treatment of
civil defence
personnel
The arrangements for the medical treatment at the Council's hospitals for
civil defence personnel, including ambulance, fire, rescue and debris clearance
services, continued throughout the year.
District
medical
service
During the year there was a slight increase in the amount of work done
by district medical officers, 30,249 patients having been treated, compared with
28,785 in 1941. These patients made 124,055 attendances at relief stations or
surgeries, and district medical officers paid 35,892 domiciliary visits compared with
112,558 attendances and 30,707 visits during 1941.
District
nursing
service
The arrangements under which district nursing associations undertake on the
Council's behalf the nursing of district medical officers' patients and others were
continued. The nurses made 220,082 visits (98,999 of which were to administer