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
Harrow 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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43
the Board of Education, to investigate and make recommendations
as to what steps should be taken to ensure that an adequate domiciliary
and institutional nursing service might be maintained.
ADEQUACY OF ACCOMMODATION.
For the greater part of the year the accommodation at the
hospital was sufficient to meet the demands for beds for cases of
scarlet fever and diphtheria. The very slight increase in notifications
of diphtheria, however, which occurred in December, overstrained
the accommodation available for this disease and cases
had to be sent outside. As in previous years, cases of double
infection had to be treated elsewhere, as had also those infections
other than scarlet fever and diphtheria for which institutional
treatment was required. Owing to the low incidence of scarlet
fever in the earlier months of the year when influenza was prevalent
it was possible to make use of a block for the admission of a limited
number of patients suffering: from complications of influenza.
The following table shows the extent to which use was made of the hospital during the year:—
| Admitted as | In Hospital 1/1 /1937 | Admitted during year. | Total. | Discharged. | Died. | In Hospital 31 /12/37 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 9 | 316 | 325 | 277 | 0 | 48 |
| Diphtheria | 3 | 82 | 85 | 68 | 4 | 13 |
| Influenza | 0 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
In addition to these cases there were 71 others who were
admitted to the isolation hospitals of other authorities who, had
suitable accommodation been available, would have been admitted
to the local hospitals.
The highest number of local patients under treatment during
the year in isolation hospitals (either local or those of other
authorities) was 84. The highest number of patients suffering from
scarlet fever only was 55, from diphtheria only was 27, and from
other diseases (including double infections) was 16.
The extent to which cases have been hospitalized in the past
does not necessarily represent the demand for the future. Firstly,
the incidence of the various diseases fluctuates and while provision
need not and would not be made for the reception of all cases
occurring in epidemic times, provision should be made for the
reception of cases occurring in the years of high incidence. For
instance, whereas in 1937 only 415 cases of scarlet fever occurred
in this area, in 1934, 621 occurred in a population of about twothirds
the size. Also the proportion of scarlet fever patients for
whom removal is requested varies, the percentage figures for the
four years 1934 to 1937 being 79, 70, 55 and 74. As regards the
incidence of diphtheria, this area has, for years, been very fortunate,
the rate for 1937, although representing a large increase on the