London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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East Ham 1928

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]

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34
Patients discharged 132 (including 7 deaths).
Average duration of stay, 20 weeks.
Number of patient days, 20,281.
Number of beds available at end of year, 56.
Average number of beds occupied, 55.41.
The number of patients admitted in 1928 was slightly greater
than in 1927. This does not mean that the average duration of
treatment has shortened, in point of fact it has somewhat
lengthened, but that the new shelters erected in October, 1927,
have been fully occupied throughout the year. Of the seven
deaths, two were due to causes other than Pulmonary Tuberculosis,
viz., one to Cerebral Haemorrhage and one to Endocarditis.
Two encouraging facts arise from the table showing the immediate
results of treatment at " Harts " :—
1. In 1928 the number of cases discharged as " Quiescent "
was 35, as compared with 22 in 1927.
2. In 1928 the number of cases discharged as " Not improved
" was 25, as compared with 35 in 1927.
One of the reasons, no doubt, for these improved results is
the fact that patients are obtaining treatment at an earlier stage
of the disease than heretofore, and another is that they are now
realising that a long sojourn in a sanatorium in the early stages
is preferable to repeated short stays. However, in many cases
domestic affairs or economic conditions at home are such as to
preclude prolonged sanatorium treatment, and the patients have
to resume their ordinary life before they are fit to do so.
Artificial pneumothorax treatment has been employed in an
increasing number of suitable cases, and the immediate results
have been very efficacious and striking. The number of refilling
operations performed was 139, an increase of 25 on the previous
year. It is necessary to watch the progress of these cases by
means of frequent X-ray screenings or photographs, and the
arrangement obtaining with authorities of the Forest Hospital,
Buckhurst Hill, has again been both convenient and helpful.
The bacteriological examinations of patients' sputa numbered
199, and in addition several specimens of pleural effusions and
other discharges of a pathological nature were also microscopically
investigated.