London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Croydon 1946

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]

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67
Co-ordination with Medical Practitioners, and Other Branches of the
Health Department.
During the year 583 cases of suspected Tuberculosis were
referred by private medical practitioners; 73 were diagnosed as
suffering from Tuberculosis and were subsequently notified. In
addition, 67 children were referred by the School Medical Service,
and 42 cases from the Maternity and Child Welfare section of
the Public Health Department. 950 per cent, of all notified
cases were examined at the Clinic or were seen at the request of
the medical attendant at the patient's home, as compared with
80.0 per cent, in 1945.
The number of reports sent in by Insurance medical
practitioners on their domiciliary cases (Form G.P.36) was 270.

Examination of Sputum.

The results of examinations made in 1946 are as follows:—

For Clinic.For General Practitioners.Totals.
Positive (i.e., tubercle bacilli present)82648874
Negative (i.e., tubercle bacilli absent)12504401690
Totals20764882564

For each 100 new cases and contacts examined at the Clinic,
149 specimens of sputum were examined.
X-Ray Work.
2,029 X-Ray examinations were made during the year. This
is equivalent to 143 for every 100 new cases and contacts seen,
and compares with a rate of 128 in 1945. In addition, a certain
number of cases who have already been examined at various
hospitals are referred to the Clinic. The X-Ray examinations
were carried out at Mayday Hospital.
The absence of an X-Ray plant at the Chest Clinic is a
great handicap in the routine work of the Clinic, and is the cause
of a lot of inconvenience to patients.
Blood Examinations.
Blood sedimentation rate was ascertained in 299 cases at
Mayday Hospital for the Chest Clinic during the year.