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Whilst a satisfactory scheme for the prevention of tuberculosis depends on a
number of social workers, the primary responsibility, states the memorandum, rests
upon the Medical Officer of Health working with the Chest Physician, the industrial
Medical Officer, and working particularly with the family Doctor. Therefore, it
is essential that there should be regular consultation and close contact between them
all, and with other local authorities' staffs to co-operate to the full.
In Woolwich, before the operation of the National Health Service Act, 1948,
the local Chest Physician was on the staff of the Borough Council. However, since
the service was transferred to the Regional Hospital Board the essential close
co-operation with the Chest Physician and officers of the Health Department has
been maintained.
Mass X-Ray Visits.
During 1954 19,887 persons residing or working in the Borough of Woolwich
were X-rayed by the Mass X-Ray Unit. In addition to short street surveys at Abbey
Wood, Plumstead, Eltham and New Eltham during the year, the Unit visited the
Old Town Hall, Woolwich, between the 12th October and the 15th November, and
owing to the heavy demand for this service it was also stationed in shop premises at
the corner of Thomas Street, Woolwich, during the month of December.
At the survey at the Old Town Hall 3,553 men and 3,840 women were X-rayed,
of which 187 men and 173 women were recalled for further examination. At the
December survey a total of 7,045 persons were X-rayed, of these 4,832 were men
and 996 women employed in local factories.
When the mobile unit visited Plumstead on a street-to-street survey during a
week in July, 564 men and 1,083 women were examined, and of these 45 men and
83 women were recalled for the taking of larger films.
At the street survey in the Eltham area between the 7th and 24th September,
1,071 men and 1,581 women were examined, of which 86 men and 79 women were
recalled for further examination.
The mobile unit also visited the New Eltham area during a week in July, when
1,150 persons were examined and only 23 were recalled for further examination, 14
of them requiring no further action.
As in past years, the Health Department assisted by arranging bookings in
connection with the visit to the Old Town Hall, and also by the showing of a sound
film dealing with mass X-ray at the Health Education sessions arranged by the
Department during the period of the visit of the unit to the Borough.
Disinfection and Disinfestation.
During 1954 the Department carried out disinfection of 421 rooms after cases
of infectious diseases, and of these 129 rooms had been occupied by tuberculous
persons. Altogether 369 inspections regarding verminous conditions were made
and 456 rooms were disinfested for vermin. Thirty-six van-loads of furniture were
fumigated during the year.
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
88 such cases dealt with during the year and a total of 478 articles were removed and
destroyed. Of these articles 75 were mattresses, 33 bedsteads, 64 sets of bedding, 3
three-piece suites and 303 other sundry items.
There were only four requests during the year from residents in the Borough
for the disinfection of rooms, bedding or furniture following the occurrence of a
non-infectious disease, or the death of a member of the family. Charges totalling
£2 10s. Od. were made for this work.
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