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The Public Health Department is responsible for the duties connected with the
prevention of the spread of tuberculous infection, and to enable these duties to be
performed Medical Practitioners notify all new cases coming to their knowledge.
The Department carries out the disinfection of the patient's rooms and possessions.
The two Chest Clinics in the Borough which are at Maxey Road, Plumstead, and
Carnecke Gardens, Eltham, are administered by the Regional Hospital Board, who
are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
During the last decade there has been a considerable reduction in the Tuberculosis
mortality rate. The following table shows the incidence of Tuberculosis
and the decline in the number of deaths from this disease during the last 12 years.
Tuberculosis Care Work.
The Woolwich Tuberculosis Care Committee, on which are represented various
official bodies, continue to carry out most useful work amongst patients and their
families. Financial help is also being given by the National Assistance Board in
certain cases.
Disinfection and Disinfestation.
The work of reconstruction of the Disinfecting Station at White Hart Road,
Plumstead, which was damaged during the war, was commenced in September,
1952, and continued during the whole of 1953, the cost of this work being recoverable
from the War Damage Commission. In addition to the external repairs to the
building being carried out, the plant and electrical wiring is also being overhauled.
The Greenwich Borough Council kindly permitted the joint use of their Disinfecting
Station until repairs are completed.
During 1953 the Department carried out disinfection of 576 rooms after cases
of infectious diseases, and of these 160 rooms had been occupied by tuberculous
persons. Altogether 579 inspections regarding verminous conditions were made
and 547 rooms were disinfested for vermin. Forty-one van loads of furniture
were fumigated during the year.
Disinfection and Disinfestation.
During the year many requests were again received from residents in the
Borough wishing to dispose of bedding and furniture, which was often in a dirty
and sometimes verminous condition. Bedding and furniture was in the main
that formerly used by persons removed to hospitals or institutions or deceased.
The articles were removed to and destroyed at the Plumstead Destructor. There
were 81 such cases dealt with during the year and a total of 471 articles were removed
and destroyed. Of these there were 89 mattresses, 38 pillows, 21 bedsteads, 93
chairs and 230 other sundry items.
Thirty-two requests were received from residents in the Borough for the disinfection
of rooms, bedding or furniture following the occurrence of a noninfectious
disease, or the death of a member of the family and for other reasons.
Charges totalling £17 5s. 6d. were made for this work.
Contacts and Carriers of Infectious Diseases—Sickness Benefit.
Where a suspected carrier or contact of a case of infectious disease is excluded
from work to prevent the risk of infection, National Health Service sickness benefit
may be claimed on production of a certificate issued by the Medical Officer of Health.
One such certificate was issued by me during the year and concerned a contact of
a case of dysentery.
Personal Cleansing.
The personal cleansing stations are situated adjacent to the Turkish Baths
in Plumstead High Street and at the Eltham Hill Health Centre, Sherard Road.
The number of persons cleansed during 1953 was 986, and the number treated for
scabies was 205. Each case of scabies is visited by a Sanitary Inspector and,
wherever possible, all the members of the families concerned attend for treatment.
The total number of attendances at the two Cleansing Stations was 1,286.
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