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
City of London 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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One student health visitor from the North London Polytechnic was received for her period of
training. Student nurses from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children were also received for
Community Care observation visits.
Every effort has been made to visit all City residents in hospitals to discuss the Community
Care requirements with the patient and hospital staff before discharge; this ensures continuity of
care and provides a better service to patients. It has also helped to improve the co-ordination
between the hospital and community service staffs. In similar ways we are building good foundations
with voluntary organisations who share, with us, in providing personal services for City
residents.
During the past two years much thought and effort has been spent in making closer ties and
improved communications with Occupational Nursing Officers in City banks and offices. In 1970
several nurses in industrial firms were welcomed into the department for practical visits in the
community to demonstrate some of the health and social services provided. These links continued
to be fostered in 1971, this development is proving most helpful both to clients and the respective
nursing staffs.
| 1970 | 1971 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cases notified (residents) | 5 | 9 |
| Home visits, old and new sases | 92 | 32 |
| Shops and office contact tracing No. of investigations | 6 | 16 |
(involving (involving 240
75 persons) persons)
The number of cases in shops and offices requiring investigation of contacts of City workers
has increased, although the number of City residents attending the Chest Clinic for observation
and treatment remains fairly static. There is always a problem of finding and treating infectious
men in the Men's Hostel in the City. Every autumn a special campaign and Mass X-Ray facilities
are provided on site and a Health and Welfare Officer visits weekly when a General Practitioner
holds a surgery in the hostel. This has enabled a considerable degree of follow up to be done.
SECTION 25 - HOME NURSING
The Metropolitan District Nursing Association continued to provide home nursing services in
the City.
Approximately 66% (66%) of visits made were to persons aged 65 years and over.
Details of visits are as follows:-
| 1970 | 1971 | |
|---|---|---|
| Visits to children under the age of 5 years | NIL | 26 |
| Visits to age group 5 to 64 | 1305 | 823 |
| Visits to persons aged 65 and over | 2352 | 1594 |
| Total visits | 3657 | 2443 |
| 1970 | 1971 | |
|---|---|---|
| Injections only | 908 | 272 |
| Injection plus other treatment | 15 | 372 |
| Nursing care and treatment | 2734 | 1799 |
| Totals | 3657 | 2443 |
Number of patients being attended at the end of year 20 24
The District Nursing Staff received 24 (28) night calls during the year.
SECTION 26 - VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION
In accordance with the then Ministry of Health instructions that smallpox vaccine should be
distributed to medical practitioners by the Local Authority in whose area they practise, arrangements
continue for the vaccine to be distributed to City doctors. During 1971, 6063 (5336) doses
have been issued to City medical practitioners and doctors at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, the
medical department of Unilever and various City business houses.
Poliomyelitis vaccine is also issued at the request of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Unilever
Limited and City medical practitioners. In all 3200 (3200) doses were issued. 76 (77) adults
(including Corporation Staff) received smallpox vaccinations.
(See other sections for vaccinations and immunisations of school children and
children under five years of age).
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