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
Barking 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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nurses will advise and help anyone in need if they would attend the
clinics , for after all "prevention is better than cure".
PROTECTION AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS
1. B.C.G. Vaccination
Our B.C.G. vaccination scheme continued during 1963 and the
gratifying total of 706 tests undertaken by your doctors illustrates
the co- operation of parents in what is one of the major preventive
measures against tuberculosis.
The Chest Physician and his staff at the Barking Hospital have
assisted us in all doubtful cases and their co-operation has been
invaluable.
The statistics regarding this service are as follows:-
Number to whom offered 838
Number tuberculin tested after parents' consent
had been received 706
Positive result 73
Negative result 633
2. Tuberculin Testing Survey
In addition to our routine B.C.G. programme already mention^
we agreed to take part in a Special Survey by the Ministry of
Education, whereby children bom in 1952, 1953 and 1954 will (with
parents' consent) have an annual skin test. The scheme is intended
to give results over the next five years which will enable the
Ministry to decide upon the best age for B.C.G. Vaccination an-, in
order to increase the number of children in this Survey, one further
age group will be added in 1964.
| Born 1952 | Born 1953 | Born 195^ | |
| No. to whom offered | 997 | 96 1 | 917 |
| No. accepted | 715(71.7%) | 717 (74.6%) | 627 (68.4%) |
| No. tested | 6 17 | 593 | 509 |
| Results: Negative | 551 (89.3%) | 535 (90.2%) | 465 (91.4%) |
| Positive | 66 (10.7%) | 58 (9.8%) |