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
Paddington 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington]
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forms as set out in Mem. 286, all insured patients are examined and reported on at regular intervals
by the Tuberculosis Officer and the panel doctor respectively. The general practitioners are invited
to attend the dispensary whenever their patients are being examined, and are at liberty to see any
medical records or study special methods of treatment, and so on.
Following up " suspect " cases.—In case of " Suspects " two methods are adopted ; the patient
either attends the dispensary at short intervals for observation, or is referred to hospital for an observation
bed, the particular method adopted in the case depending on the urgency of the diagnosis
and the patient's circumstances.
Examination of contacts.—Of the total number of contacts in 1925, 70 per cent. were examined.
It is usual to examine contacts in their homes, but if more convenient to the patients, they are examined
at the dispensary.
Methods of diagnosis.—Tuberculin is only used for diagnostic purposes percutaneously. X-ray
and blood examinations are only done in special cases.
Treatment.—Tuberculins, vaccines and some special chemical preparations are used. Ultra
Violet irradiation. A number of children with Tubercular Adenitis have been treated with Tuberculin
percutaneously, but as this treatment has only recently been applied, it is not possible to assess the
value of this particular method of administering Tuberculin.
Treatment of non-pulmonary cases.—All forms of Tuberculosis other than Pulmonary and Glands
are referred to St. Mary's or some other general hospital.
Arrangements for finding employment.—The dispensary Case Committee endeavours to find
suitable employment for patients.
Occupation.—The majority of the patients are employed in offices and shops ; the remainder in
motor trade and as general labourers. As a result of experience, we find clerking is suitable employment
for ex-sanatorium patients.
Difficulties encountered.—The dispensary premises are too small and very noisy; this latter
nuisance is growing worse.
Return as to Work carried out in connection with the Paddington Tuberculosis Dispensary for the Year 1924.
(The return relates only to persons residing in the area which is served by the Dispensary.)
| Number of | Under observation at the Dispensary on Jan. 1st pending diagnosis. | Examined for the first time during the year. | Total. | Found to be | Under observat ion at the Dispensary on Dec. 31st pending diagnosis. | Ceased attendance before completion of diagnosis. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffering from Tuberculosis. | Not suffering from Tuberculosis. | |||||||||||
| Pulmonary. | Non-Pulmonary. | |||||||||||
| (a) All persons (including "Contacts") | Adults. | M | 1 | 191 | 192 | 57 | 4 | 126 | 1 | 4 | ||
| F. | 4 | 225 | 229 | 43 | 4 | 167 | 6 | 9 | ||||
| M | 6 | 182 | 188 | 1 | 45 | 132 | 3 | 7 | ||||
| F. | 9 | 178 | 187 | 2 | 22 | 144 | 6 | 13 | ||||
| Total | 20 | 776 | 796 | 103 | 75 | 569 | 16 | 33 | ||||
| (6) "Contacts" (included in (a) | Adults. | M | 2 | 73 | 75 | 4 | 1 | 69 | 1 | – | ||
| F. | 3 | 99 | 102 | 7 | – | 93 | 2 | _ | ||||
| Children under 15. | M. | 2 | 92 | 94 | 1 | 11 | 80 | 2 | – | |||
| F. | 6 | 101 | 107 | 1 | 6 | 96 | 4 | – | ||||
| (c) Insured persons included in (a) | M. | 1 | 148 | 149 | 45 | 4 | 99 | 1 | – | |||
| F. | 4 | 81 | 85 | 25 | 3 | 53 | 4 | — | ||||
| 1. Number of patients under treatment or supervision (excluding persons under observation or domiciliary treatment) on the 31st December* | 340 | 6. Number of reports received from Insurance Practitioners in respect of insured patients under domiciliary treatment during the year | 12 | |||||||||
| 2. Total number of attendances of patients at the Dispensary during the year. | Insured | 1,525 | 7. Number of persons referred to affiliated hospital for consultation | 32 | ||||||||
| Uninsured | 3,564 | 8. Number of consultations with medical practitioners at the homes of patients | Insured | 8 | ||||||||
| 3. Number of persons placed during the year under observation at the Dispensary for the purpose of diagnosis | 133 | Uninsured | 16 | |||||||||
| 9. Number of other visits paid by Tuberculosis Officer to the homes of patients | 468 | |||||||||||
| 4. Number of cases in which the period of observation at the Dispensary exceeded two months | 30 | 10. Number of visits paid by Nurses or Health Visitors to the homes of patients for dispensary purposes | 2,364 | |||||||||
| 5. Number of insured patients under domiciliary treatment on December 31st† | 53 | 11. Number of specimens of sputum examined in connection with the work of the Dispensary | 213 | |||||||||
* Insured persons under domiciliary treatment by Insurance practitioners are excluded, even though they may attend the
dispensary at intervals for examination or consultation. Such cases are included under Head 5.
† All insured persons in the dispensary area who are actually receiving domiciliary treatment from Insurance practitioners
are included, irrespective of the date upon which they were placed under domiciliary treatment and of any attendance
at the dispensary.