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
East Ham 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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The following are the comparative figures for the years 1942— 1946:—
| 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New cases and contacts | 997 | 1,317 | 1,034 | 1,050 | 1,413 | |
| Number proved after complete investigation to be tuberculous | 15.65% | 17.61% | 15.75% | 24.85% | 14.44% | |
| includes ex service cases. | ||||||
| Attendances | Medical examinations | |||||
| 1942 | 4,768 | 3,238 | ||||
| 1943 | 6,580 | 4,493 | ||||
| 1944 | 6,057 | 3,969 | ||||
| 1945 | 6,877 | 4,566 | ||||
| 1946 | 7,640 | 4,821 | ||||
Consultations at Home of Patients.
During the year 13 visits were made to the homes of patients who
were too ill to attend the clinic.
Number of X-Ray Examinations at the Chest Clinic.
1942 1943 1944 1945 1946
1,575 1,844 1,628 1,922 2,824
Attendances.
The number of attendances and medical examinations are the
highest on record and are practically twice those of 1939.
The number of new cases, including contacts, was 1,413.
The figure of new cases seen is roughly 3 times that of 1939.
This marked increase may be accounted for by:—
(a) increased consciousness of the public in relation to preventive
health examinations
(b) increased demands for examination by the Services.
Dr. Philip Ellman, Consultant to the Clinic, reports on the work
of the Chest Clinic, as follows:—
Examination of Home Contacts of Tuberculous Persons.
These examinations are among the most important features of the
social and medical services of the Chest Clinic and are invaluable
preventive measures. They bring to light sources of infection in the
home environment, they are a fruitful means of detecting early silent
disease which generally responds very well to treatment.