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
Havering 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Havering]
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INFECTIOUS AND OTHER NOTIFIABLE DISEASES
The following notifications were received during the year:—
TABLE No. 29
| Disease | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dysentery | 13 | 15 | 28 |
| Erysipelas | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Food Poisoning (or suspected food poisoning) | 161 | 156 | 317 |
| Infective Hepatitis | 15 | 16 | 31 |
| Measles | 2,363 | 1,876 | 4,239 |
| Meningococcal Infection | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Paratyphoid Fever | — | 1 | 1 |
| Pneumonia | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | — | 4 | 4 |
| Scarlet Fever | 102 | 106 | 208 |
| Tuberculosis: Respiratory | 51 | 10 | 61 |
| Meninges & C.N.S. | 1 | — | 1 |
| Other | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Whooping Cough | 25 | 48 | 73 |
| Totals | 2,744 | 2,242 | 4.986 |
Of the 317 cases of Food Poisoning (or suspected) only 11
(5 males and 6 females) were confirmed bacteriologically.
It is pleasing to record that no cases of Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria,
Smallpox, Encephalitis, Typhoid Fever or Anthrax were
notified during the year.
The bulk of the measles cases occurred in the first quarter of
the year and this confirmed the expectation that 1965 would be an
"epidemic" year.
IMMIGRANTS
At the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Health communicated
with local authorities regarding the special problems in
connection with the health and treatment of long-stay immigrants
in this country.
After consultation with representatives of the medical profession
and local authorities the Minister implemented a scheme
whereby medical inspectors at Ports obtained destination addresses
from immigrants and then forwarded these addresses to the Medical
Officer of Health for the areas concerned.
Arrangements were then made for a follow-up visit by the
Public Health Inspector who gives (a) general information about the
health services; (b) advises the immigrants to get themselves and
their dependants registered with a Doctor with a view particularly
to chest X-ray; (c) a hand-out card printed in six different languages
including Hindi and Urdu explaining the medical services available
for persons living in the United Kingdom.
During the year under review forty-three immigrants were reported
to the Medical Officer of Health and follow-up visits made.
An annual return is made to the Ministry of Health in order
that the national picture can be seen.
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