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 1946

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

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33
Treatment of tuberculosis
The number of definite cases of tuberculosis on the dispensary registers at the
end of the year was 26,374, compared with 24,879 at the end of 1945, and 21,740 at
the end of 1938.
Dispensary
service.
The work of the dispensary service has functioned satisfactorily throughout the
year. Evening sessions were held for the convenience of patients unable to attend
normal sessions.
The X-ray examination of patients has shown a steady increase during the past
three years and it is anticipated that the increase will be maintained.

Table: The number of recommendations for residential treatment with the corresponding figures for the war years and 1938 were:—

The number of recommendations for residential treatment with the corresponding figures for the war years and 1938 were:—

YearFor the first period of treatmentFor further treatmentTotal
Ex-ServiceService sick†Civilian adultsChildrenEx-ServiceService sick†Civilian adultsChildren
MaleFemaleMaleFemale
*19462491631,7401,76185321319279831056,995
*19452861931,6991,76370720911,0349151046,911
1944583—1,7741,874712183—1,159945807,310
1943376—1,9472,015749116—1,216912567,387
1942330—1,9441,83069477—1,043764606,742
1941262—1,9431,56257853—1,098748526,296
194068—2,1601,58438944—1,5031,097906,935
19394—2,4731,66760935—1,6951,2061637,852
193822,6101,96079652—1,6711,1601998,450

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Residential
treatment
*The revised procedure authorised in Ministry of Health circulars 127/45, 177/45 and 68/46, under
which the discharge of patients from the Services is deferred for a period up to 30 months while they are
undergoing treatment, continued to reflect in the number of recommendations received for ex-Service
men and women accepted by the Ministry of Pensions under Ministry of Health Memo. 146 T (Revised).
†Prior to 1945 " Service sick " patients were dealt with by the Emergency Medical Service.

Table: Patients recommended for treatment during the year were dealt with as follows (the corresponding figures for 1945 to 1943 and 1938 are also shown, but those for the years 1942 to 1939, inclusive, are not available):—

Patients recommended for treatment during the year were dealt with as follows (the corresponding figures for 1945 to 1943 and 1938 are also shown, but those for the years 1942 to 1939, inclusive, are not available):—

AdultsChildren
1946194519441943193819461945194419431938
(o) Admitted to "observation" beds to determine diagnosis or suitability for treatment at sanatoria9458387136921,33820223522790202
(b) Admitted to Pleural Effusion Unit260278271202—22142055—
(c) Passed for admission direct to sanatoria or hospitals4,6094,8415,3175,5325,963619517503636749
(d) Not accepted for residential treatment ...4226561110631——1323
(e) Withdrawn after application but before decision was reached181117161145488424161121
Total6,0376,1006,5186,5827,455958811792805995

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The availability of suitable bed accommodation showed further deterioration
compared with 1945, and it was necessary to continue the special selection of cases
suitable for treatment at home under the supervision of the local tuberculosis officer.
This is reflected in the reduced number of patients recommended for in-patient
treatment as well as the numbers actually admitted. This reduction in numbers of
patients is also related to the slightly lower incidence of tuberculosis and the reduced
London population.