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

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Willesden 1924

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]

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Duration of Stay in Hospital.

The following figures show the average stay in days of each class of patient:—

Scarlet. Fever45.0Diphtheria35.0
Enteric Fever62.0Other Diseases20.0

Kingsbury Hospital.
This Hospital was opened on the 26th June for 9 cases of Small Pox, which occurred in two
families occupying one house in the district on that day. Another case was admitted on July 1st,
making 10 cases in all. Of the 10 cases, 6 were adults, and 4 were children. Of the adults, 1 man
was unvaccinated, and of the children, all were unvaccinated. Altogether, 3 patients died, 1
unvaccinated child, and 2 vaccinated women, all of them dying from Haemorrhagic Small Pox.
This Hospital was closed on August 11 th.
Sick Staff.
The number of Nurses who were off duty from sickness for 24 hours or more was only 25 as
compared with 38 in 1923. The number of days they were off duty was 264, 41 days less than in
the previous year.
One Nurse contracted Scarlet Fever, one Mumps, and one Rubella—all recovered.
Amongst the Domestic Staff, 63 maids were off duty for a total of 556 days. In 1923, there
were 67 members off duty for 810 days.
The following table shows the change that has taken place in the incidence of sickness amongst
the Nursing and Domestic Staff in recent years. When both Nursing Staff and Domestic were
resident in Hospital, the number of sick members was always highest, naturally enough, amongst
the Nursing Staff, but, now that the Domestic Staff live outside, abstention from duty is much greater
amongst the Domestic Staff, and that, I may say, is the experience of other Institutions where the
Domestic Staff is non-resident.

The following figures show the change which has taken place:—

Nurses off dutv sick.Domestic Staff off duty sick.
19194420
19205530
19216348
19225379
19233867
19242563

Domestic Staff were first allowed to live out in July 1920, when a small fraction of the total
Staff took advantage of the concession during the year.
Two of the Domestic Staff contracted infectious ailments, viz., Scarlet Fever, both recovered.
Hospital Buildings.
No additions have been made to the Hospital during the year, but alterations have been
made to W. and S. Blocks, the former being converted into large mess rooms for the Nursing and
Domestic Staff, and the latter partly into Domestic Staff (non-resident) dressing room, and partly
into a store and office for the Steward,whilst the old Nurses' Mess Room is now a Nurses' Reading Room.
Into E. Ward, new ward stoves have been installed, but the hot water supply to that block
remains very inadequate.
The Laundry has been brought up-to-date, and a new Calender, Hydro Extractor, and Steam
Presses have been provided.
The Special Hospital Accommodation Committee have met throughout the year on several
occasions. As a result, they have recommended the rebuilding of Kingsbury Hospital, burned down
in 1912, and that awaits the special approval of the Council, whilst the question of building a 32-bedded
Observation Block is to receive later consideration.
I am, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your Obedient Servant,
W. J. J. STEWART,
Medical Superintendent.