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 1944
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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During the year, 172 contacts were named by more than one informant, and
all those who could be traced (123) were dealt with under the Regulation by notice
to attend a special practitioner for examination and treatment. In 10 instances
the alleged contact was prosecuted for failing to obey the notice, and six were
sentenced to terms of imprisonment; three were placed on probation and one
dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act. In four the contact was prosecuted
for failure to continue treatment. Of these, one was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment
(to continue treatment on release) and the others were placed on probation
for twelve months.
Much difficulty is encountered in endeavouring to trace those named in the
notifications. Frequently the informant has only a vague idea of the name and
address of the contact, and, even when correct names and addresses are furnished,
it is often found impossible to trace them owing to the migratory habits of most
of them. In this connection I have to acknowledge the valuable help given by the
Metropolitan Police in tracing contacts named by more than one informant.
The following statement summarises the work of the year, the figures for the year 1943 being given in brackets:-
| M. | F. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | Total number of contacts in respect of whom form 1 was received | 11 (34) | 1,333 (620) |
| (2) | Number of cases in (1) in which attempts were made outside the scope of the Regulation to persuade the contact to be examined before the latter had been named on a second from recieved | 7 (20) | 528 (190) |
| Contacts found | 7 (10) | 328 (94) | |
| Contacts examined | 6 ( 9) | 199 (70) | |
| (3) | Number of those in (1) in respect of whom two or more from iwere received | - | 172 (60) |
| (4) | Number of those in (3) who were:- | ||
| (a)found | - | 123 (37) | |
| - | 123 (32) | ||
| (c) examined after service of form 2 | - | 103 (29) | |
| (i) to attend for, and submit to, medical examination | - | 10 (3) | |
| (ii) to submit to and continue treatment | - | 4 (-) |
Dispensary
service
Treatment of tuberculosis
The number of names on the dispensary registers at the end of the year was
23,671, compared with 21,914 at the end of 1943, and 21,740 at the end of 1938.
The work of the dispensary service has considerably increased during the year,
and has functioned satisfactorily, despite the very adverse conditions in London
due to enemy aerial activity. Evening sessions were held during the summer,
and Saturday afternoon sessions or other special sessions were substituted in some
cases diirincr the winter.
Residential
treatment
The number of recommendations for residential treatment with the corresponding figures for 1943, 1942 and 1938 were :—
| Year | Men | W omen | Children Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | 3,655 | 2,864 | 792 7,311 |
| 1943 | 3,657 | 2,926 | 800 7,383 |
| 1942 | 3,394 | 2,594 | 754 '6,742 |
| 1938 | 4,341 | 3,121 | 996 8,458 |
The numbers of beds occupied by patients under the tuberculosis scheme on
31st December, 1944 (with corresponding figures for 1943 and 1938) were as follows;
the figures in brackets represent the number of ex-Service men and women (included
in the figures) whose tuberculous condition has been accepted by the Ministry of
Pensions as connected with war service:—