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
Stepney 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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TABLE II.
Analysis of " Contacts."
| Borough Council " Contacts." | Definite. | Doubtful. | No evidence of Tuberculosis. | Unable to attend for examination. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stepney and Mile End | 15 | 54 | 421 | 179 |
| St. George-in-the-East | 6 | 7 | 354 | 42 |
| Whitechapel | 7 | 13 | 256 | 22 |
| Stepney and Mile End | 19 | 116 | 296 | — |
| St. George-in-the-East | 7 | 15 | 196 | — |
| Whitechapel | 6 | 18 | 212 | — |
Table III. shows the number of War pensioners dealt with at the Dispensaries
during the year.
The Tuberculosis Officers act as referees for the Ministry of Pensions as
far as tuberculosis is concerned.
TABLE III. War Pension Cases.
| New cases examined during the year. | Cases in attendance during the year. | |
|---|---|---|
| Stepney and Mile End | 34 | 118 |
| St. George-in-the-East | 15 | 46 |
| Whitechapel | 13 | 38 |
After-Care. There is at the present time urgent need for the after-care
of patients, who have undergone a course of treatment.
Many of these cases benefit considerably from Sanatorium treatment, but
on discharge they have to return to, perhaps, unsuitable occupations, and poor
home conditions, with the result that the disease again becomes active and
nearly all the benefit obtained whilst under treatment, is lost.
These cases would often profit from suitable work of a comparatively
light nature, and in some cases the disease would eventually become arrested
entirely. Many are fit for such light work, but they are not fit to compete
with healthy men and women in the open market. There is not yet any
adequate organisation for dealing with the after-care problem.
Tables IV. and V. show a general analysis of the patients attending the
Dispensaries during the year.