London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

London County Council 1963

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

This page requires JavaScript

Medical examination of staff—

196119621963
Number of medical examinations14,41014,26514,186
Number of recommendations without medical examination1,3841,1111,138
Number of follow-ups (i.e. usually hospital or specialist reports)5,2925,5415,120
Number of medical examinations carried out for other authorities135125148
Total21,22121,04220,592
Reason for medical examination (persons)
Candidates for employment11,38811,53611,853
Following prolonged sick leave2,9933,0103,356
Following accident on duty541470375
Fitness for duty (e.g. approaching confinement leave, special duties)570659422
Eligibility for spouse pension868089
Total15,57815,75516,095
Candidates examined for the Council by other authorities72104157
Staff casualties dealt with in the medical inspection rooms at County Hall8631,0581,017

Food handlers—During the year 765 food handlers were referred for investigation because they had been in contact with or had suffered from certain infectious diseases. Bacteriological examination was arranged where appropriate.

19591960196119621963
Contacts167205118114212
III302419307375553
Allowed to resume work after examination or fixed period of exclusion451578406444728
Resigned, retired or died823162828
Excluded from work and referred to own doctor for treatment10233179

The nine cases referred to their doctor had been found to have the following microorganisms :

ConditionOrganism isolated
Discharging ears convalescentHeavy growth of staphylococcus aureus
Enteritis convalescentSalmonella heidelberg
Food poisoning convalescentSalmonella anatum
Gastro-enteritis convalescents (3)Shigella sonnei
Scarlet fever contacts (3)Haemolytic streptococci

Staff training
Recruitment training—There are two schemes, one for health visitors and the other for
day nursery nursing staff, under which students are recruited and trained at the expense of
the Council. For the health visitor students the University of London Institute of Education,
Battersea College of Technology and the Royal College of Nursing have provided theoretical
instruction: 56 of these students were undergoing training at the end of the year. The 205
day nursery students in training at the end of the year were receiving their theoretical
instruction at Brixton Day College or the North-Western Polytechnic.
94