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 1948

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

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48
taken to hospitals and nursing homes by the accident section fell by over 800.
A detailed analysis of cases and comparative figures for the previous year appears
in the statistical tables given below.
The time taken to reach incidents showed an improvement over the previous
year. The average time taken to reach street accidents was reduced from 7.5 minutes
in 1947 to 7.1 minutes in 1948 and for emergency cases of all kinds the average time
was reduced from 8.3 minutes to 8.1 minutes.
The number of emergency calls per station ranged from 6,664 at Bloomsbury
to 2,363 at Poplar Ambulance Station. (The second ambulances at the accident
stations in the less busy areas are called upon to assist with general section removals.)
The hourly record shows that the peak period commenced between 11 a.m. and
noon and, with the exception of a slight fall between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., remained
constant until 5 p.m. As in previous years, a sharp rise occurred from 10 p.m. until
midnight. Calls were at their lowest between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.
December was once again the month with the highest number of emergency
calls (6,394) showing a marked increase over November in which there were 5,397.

Table: The nature of the cases dealt with by the accident section was :—

The nature of the cases dealt with by the accident section was :—

19471948Increase or decrease
Street accidents9,3299,565+ 236
Other accidents11,43011,553+ 123
Assault cases1,1031,095- 8
Attempted suicide523612+ 89
Mental837684- 153
Epilepsy1,2221,315+ 93
Other sudden illness10,20510,915+ 710
Maternity23,80422,969- 835
Analgesia apparatus delivered to women being confined at home1,1323,791+2,659
Special cases (mainly conveying mobile emergency obstetric units to women being confined at home)178146- 32
Transfer of accident cases taken to hospital within previous 24 hours2,6231,192-1,431
Ambulance not required3,7573,839+ 82
66,14367,676+ 1,533

Table: Street accident cases by ages were:—

Street accident cases by ages were:—

19471948
Age (in years)MalesFemalesSex not statedTotalsMalesFemalesSex not statedTotals
0— 963634212990795373161,184
10—1973540441,143819386121,217
20—2978744381,238755432141,201
30—3973545381,196705472201,197
40—4968147761,164633477151,125
50—59587556101,15359861191,218
60—6956961211,18257762581,210
70—7941445838753654488821
80—8910313112351071463256
90 and over108-181111-22
Not stated864811356648-114
5,3433,932549,3295,4314,0291059,565