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
Bexley 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bexley]
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as one year previously and it was found, on review, that in a
number of cases the need for operation no longer existed.
The result of this was that revised lists were sent to the various
hospitals and this action was appreciated by the hospital
authorities whose lengthy waiting lists were proving a considerable
embarrassment to them. There is considerable
weight of medical opinion that simple enlargement of tonsils
is often a physiological response to infection in the nose and
throat and the removal of the tonsils and adenoids at this
stage may be fraught with danger to the child.
During the year many children were recommended for
a period of convalescent home treatment following debilitating
illnesses and it is pleasing to record that these arrangements
were made expeditiously and during the period of greatest
need.
One of the advantages experienced was that Head Teachers
and their staffs could call at the office or telephone to discuss
individual children about whom they were concerned. This
personal contact has been to the mutual advantage of all
concerned.
The year was not without its difficulties, one of the chief,
in the early stages, being the lack of adequate office equipment,
including filing cabinets for medical records. However, this
equipment has now been supplied and the School Health
Department Office is now adequately staffed and equipped.
Although a third School Nurse was appointed in September,
the staff of health visitors in the School Health Service
is still inadequate, and the existing staff have had to cope
with an unduly large case load.
Broadly speaking, however, the local administration of
the School Health Service has started well and a considerable
volume of work has been carried out which is reflected in the
statistics which form a part of this report.
I wish to express my appreciation of the help and support
which I have received during the year from the Chairman and
Members of the Committee and from all members of the
Staff to whose zeal and energy the School Health Service
largely owes its present efficiency.
I am, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN LANDON,
Medical Officer of Health.
56
Particulars relating to the same, and also to the deaths which occurred during 1947 are contained in the following table :—
| Age Period | New Cases | Deaths | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory | Non-Respiratory | Respiratory | Non-Respiratory | |||||
| M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | |
| 0—1 | _— | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| 1—5 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 5 — 10 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10—15 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| 15 —20 | 10 | 5 | 3 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | — |
| 20 — 25 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 25 —35 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | 1 |
| 35—45 | 8 | 4 | — | 1 | 4 | 5 | — | 1 |
| 45 — 55 | 8 | 3 | 1 | — | 10 | 5 | — | — |
| 55 — 65 | 6 | 3 | — | — | 5 | 3 | — | — |
| 65 and | ||||||||
| 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Totals | 59 | 39 | 10 | 4 | 32 | 20 | 3 | 3 |
Eleven cases were referred to me by Tuberculosis Officer for rehousing and in eight cases the families were rehoused by the Housing Committee.
| No. on Register at commencement of year | Pulmonary. | Non-Pulmonary. | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 370 | 290 | 56 | 65 | 781 | |
| No. on Register at end of year | 389 | 299 | 58 | 63 | 809 |