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Dealing first with the pulmonary form of the disease it will be noted
that in spite of a temporary war-time increase the case rate has steadily
declined since the formation of the District, the ten yearly averages
being 115, 82 and 68 new cases per 100,000 population per annum.
The corresponding figures for non-pulmonary tuberculosis are, of
course, much lower and have remained fairly steady with ten yearly
averages of 15, 18 and 14.
In both the above rates, the figures for 1946 compared very favourably
with those of previous years.
In the death rates for both forms of tuberculosis there was a more
or less steady decline before the war, a temporary set back in the early
war years, followed by further improvement, but locally these death
rates in 1946 were not so satisfactory as in 1945. This is probably, however,
only a temporary fluctuation.
Of the deaths which occurred in 1946, 22 were in previously notified
cases, i.e. 66 per cent. Of the remainder 5 were notified posthumously.
The Council is responsible for measures to prevent the spread of this
disease, including rehousing where necessary. Arrangements have been
made for the examination, free of charge, of sputa in cases or suspected
cases of tuberculosis, 61 such examinations being made during 1946.
Similarly disinfection and visitation are provided to secure the
removal of unhygienic conditions, the examination of contacts, etc.
The treatment of cases of tuberculosis is under the control of the
Surrey County Council, which provides both sanatorium and dispensary
treatment, but their resources continue to be strained owing to the lack
of staff and other demands for hospital beds.
The dispensary for the diagnosis and observation of cases is situated
in Whytecliffe Road, Purley, and sessions are held there every Monday
from 2-4 p.m.
The County Council makes a very substantial contribution towards
the financial resources of a Voluntary Care Committee, which serves the
area of the Urban District and most of the Caterham and Warlingham
Urban District. It does very useful work in helping individual cases and
their dependants. The Council has been represented thereon by the
Medical Officer of Health and, in addition, in 1945 appointed a member
of the Council to serve on the Committee.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, 1936, SECTION 172.
PUBLIC HEALTH (PREVENTION OF TUBERCULOSIS)
REGULATIONS, 1926.
No action has been required under these powers during recent years.
NON-NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
The group of non-notifiable infectious diseases accounts for very few
deaths, with the exception of influenza, to which 10 deaths were attributed
in 1946. The average number of deaths annually from influenza was
24