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 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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The main conditions treated were:—
| Number | Per cent. of total | |
|---|---|---|
| Infectious and parasitic diseases | 1,824 | 3.5 |
| Tuberculosis | 2,034 | 3.9 |
| Cancer and other neoplasms | 2,346 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes | 1,376 | 2.6 |
| Mental and other nervous diseases | 597 | 1.1 |
| Ear, and eye and other sense organs | 3,169 | 6.1 |
| Cerebral lesions of vascular origin | 1,873 | 3.6 |
| Heart and arteries | 5,132 | 9.9 |
| Veins and other circulatory diseases | 618 | 1.2 |
| Respiratory diseases | 10,951 | 21.1 |
| Digestive diseases | 5,040 | 9.7 |
| Genito-urinary | 3,428 | 6.6 |
| Pregnancy | 669 | 1.3 |
| Skin | 4,855 | 9.3 |
| Bones and organs of movement | 1,136 | 2.2 |
| Injuries | 1,317 | 2.5 |
| Other diseases or ill-defined | 5,660 | 10.9 |
Patients were referred to the nursing organisations by various agencies as follows:—
| Number | Per cent. of total | |
|---|---|---|
| By General practitioners | 40,947 | 78.7 |
| Hospitals | 8,250 | 15.9 |
| Public health authority. | 690 | 1.3 |
| Direct application | 1,213 | 2.3 |
| Chest clinics | 925 | 1.8 |
The nursing of patients in their own homes is often made easier if special equipment
and surgical appliances can be supplied, and there are also cases where, in
order to ease the pressure on hospital beds, patients are discharged to their homes
whilst still requiring the use of such equipment to assist their recovery. These
patients are all referred to the district nursing service, and the equipment can be
supplied by arrangement with the District Nursing Associations and the British Red
Cross Society. A few large and expensive items are supplied direct by the Council.
Experience has shown that the work of a district nurse can be more speedily
carried out if instead of relying on public transport or a pedal cycle she can use a car
to travel between cases. Most associations are not able to purchase a car from thenown
resources, nor could those in better financial position obtain delivery of cars
ordered. The Council therefore agreed to provide up to 25 cars to those associations
whose work justified it, seven to be delivered during each of the financial years 1951-2,
1952-3 and 1953-4, and the balance in 1954-5. Any association obtaining a car under
this scheme and subsequently acquiring one from its own resources will return the
Council's car for use by another association. Up to the end of the year five cars had
been provided, and they have proved of gre£t value to the associations concerned.
The cars remain the Council's property. The associations pay only running costs,
which rank for grant from the Council.
In October, the Central Council for District Nursing in London organised an
exhibition for the purpose of recruiting nurses to the district nursing service. The
exhibition was held for a period of four days and was financially assisted by the Council
to the extent of half the cost. Assistance was also given by way of the loan of equipment
and by other services. Enquiries subsequently received indicate that the main
object of the exhibition may to a large extent have been achieved.
Several of the district nursing associations have found that the increased demands
on their services, with consequent need to employ more staff, have rendered their
existing nurses' homes no longer adequate for their purpose. The building of an