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
Hendon 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon]
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The work has increased as is shown by the following:—
| 31/12/49 | 31/12/50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of notified cases on Clinic register | 1,669 | 1,737 |
| 1949 | 1950 | |
| New cases diagnosed as tuberculosis during the year | 244 | 21.3 |
| Total attendances at Clinic | 20,446 | 26,297 |
| Total new cases referred to Clinic | 1,284 | 2,777 |
| Total number X-rayed | 7,489 | 16,717 |
| Total deaths of tuberculous cases attending Chest Clinic | 56 | 28 |
It is to be observed that there has been a slight decrease
in the number of new cases of tuberculosis and a considerable
fall in the deaths, due no doubt to the fairly extensive
use of new drugs (such as streptomycin) in treatment.
Owing to a great shortage of beds there have been
considerable difficulties in admitting patients to hospital
for treatment and much treatment has had to be given at
home. At the beginning of the year, the Hendon Group
Hospital Management Committee opened an additional
twelve beds for the use of patients attending Edgware
Chest Clinic, and there was some increase in the number
of sanatorium beds in the North West Metropolitan
Hospital Region during the year. Nevertheless, the
number of patients waiting for admission on 31st December
1949 was 103, and on 31st December 1950 was 115.
One of the important measures for preventing the
spread of tuberculosis is the provision of satisfactory
housing conditions. Early in the year the Housing Committe
kindly agreed to consider reports on cases, where
there was a danger of the spread of tuberculosis in a
household, submitted by the Physician to Edgware Chest
Clinic through the Medical Officer of Health. This procedure,
which has enabled some of the dangerously urgent
problems to be dealt with can, however, be employed on
on only a very small scale owing to the general shortage
of houses."
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