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
Marylebone 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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42
Treatment of Tuberculosis.
Of the cases notified, admissions to hospital and sanatorium numbered 201,
and during the year every effort was made to obtain admission to sanatoria of cases
deemed suitable for such treatment.
The London County Council continued the arrangement whereby the Borough
Tuberculosis Officer is deemed to be an honorary consultant for tuberculosis in the
general hospitals under the County Council's control. The hospital attended by the
Tuberculosis Officer for this purpose is St. Charles', Ladbroke Grove, North Kensington,
W.10, to which the majority of St. Marylebone patients for hospital treatment
are admitted.
Extra Nourishment for Tuberculous Persons.
Under arrangements made by the Council and sanctioned by the Minister of
Health under section 219 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, milk was supplied
to tuberculous persons under the tuberculosis dispensary scheme. The number of
orders issued during the year was 253, the amount expended being
£111 4s. 8d.
Prevention of Tuberculosis.
The dispensary continued to occupy temporary accommodation at the Old
Baths Establishment, Marylebone Road, pending the erection of Health Centre
No. 1 (of which the dispensary will form part) on a portion of the site adjoining the
Town Hall, and except for a lessening of activities during August and September
the work proceeded on practically a normal basis throughout 1939.
Particulars with regard to patients dealt with during the year are shown in Table 25, while the following short table summarises the information as to visits, etc., paid by the Tuberculosis Officer and other members of the dispensary staff:—
| No. of cases at dispensary New, | 273 | Old, 310 |
| No. of attendances at dispensary | 1,762 | |
| No. of contacts New, | 97 | Old, 90 |
| No. of home visits by Tuberculosis Officer New, | 25 | Old, 128 |
| No. of hospital visits by Tuberculosis Officer | 53 | |
| No. of home visits by Tuberculosis Visitors— | ||
| First visits, | 125 | Re-visits, 1,564 |
| No. of Care Committee meetings held | 16 | |
In addition to the Borough Council's dispensary there is another—the Margaret
Street Dispensary—which is provided by a voluntary body and also possesses
facilities for the treatment of tuberculosis.
Military Training and Tuberculosis.
From June onwards, at the request of the Ministry of Health, the Tuberculosis
Officer provided, for the information of medical boards established under the Military
Training Act, 1939, a specialist opinion regarding men called up who were either
known to him as patients or were referred to him because of some doubt as to their
respiratory condition.
Tuberculosis Care Committee.
The Committee, under the chairmanship of Councillor J. Bennett, continued
to meet during the greater part of the year, and dealt with a total of 336 cases.
DISINFECTION.
During the year 572 rooms and 21,555 articles (including 266 books) were
disinfected.