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 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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Its chief disadvantage is that at present it detects only one of a
number of metabolic disorders which lead to mental or physical handicap
if not detected and suitably treated.
The screening of babies by the Guthrie method commenced for all babies
born at home in the Borough or at Rush Green Hospital on 1st May 1969.
Babies born at Barking Hospital continued to be tested by the "Phenistix"
method.
REPORT OF THE GERIATRIC LIAISON OFFICER
A greater understanding of Local Authority services for the elderly
has I feel been of great help to the General Practitioners and hospital
staff, thus enabling a continued and co-ordinated service on patients
leaving hospital.
Home assessment visits continued to advise on the care of the elderly and the followup observation of patients discharged from hospital, these forming a major part of my work.
| Cases Visited 1969 | No. of Cases |
|---|---|
| Referred by Geriatric Consultants on discharge from hospital | 213 |
| Referred by General Practitioners | 23 |
| Referred by Consultant Physicians on discharge from hospital | 102 |
| Miscellaneous Referrals | 201 |
| Revisits to cases | 672 |
| Total visits made | 1.211 |
GERIATRIC CLINIC - Porters Avenue Clinic
Our Geriatric Clinic maintained its popularity but for various
technical reasons and staff difficulties, we were unable to run as many
courses as we would have liked.
Thirty one persons asked for a medical examination, but as two had
been under investigation and/or had check¬ups at the same time in hospital,
only twenty nine were examined.
Some comparison with social and medical data of the previous year
produced the following information.
Ages ranged from 60 years to 78 years. The majority were between
66 and 70 years of age.
The only 60 year old was a male, grossly overweight (40fc) edentulous, wearing no dentures, suffering from incipient Parkinsonism.
| 1968 | 1969 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total number examined | 43 | 29 |
| Hales | 15 | 8 |
| Females | 28 | 21 |
| Married and living together | 28 | 15 |
| Living alone. Females | 11 | 10 |
| „ „ Males | 1 | 0 |
| Living with relations. Females | 3 | 3 |
| „ „ „ Males | 0 | 1 |