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 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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51
The Council have no arrangements with the Hospital Car
Service.
Mutual assistance arrangements existed throughout the year
between the Authority and the L.C.C., West Ham and the Essex
C.C., and particulars are as follows :—
L.C.C.
Removal by L.C.C. of typhus and smallpox patients within a radius of 25 miles. During 1949, these ambulances were used to remove 11 contacts of Smallpox from the S.S. " Mooltan."
| West Ham and Essex C.C. | Cars. | Ambulances. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| †East Ham for Essex | 11 | 34 | 45 |
| †East Ham for West Ham | 3 | 29 | 32 |
| * Essex for East Ham | 2 | 24 | 26 |
| *West Ham for East Ham | 5 | 114 | 119 |
† Journeys and mileage included in tables 32 and 33.
* Journeys and mileage not included in tables 32 and 33.
Section 28—Prevention of Illness, Care and After-Care.
Under Sections 22 and 28 of the Act, the Council (vide Minute
No. 256) approved the establishment of loan cupboards and the
Ministry of Health signified their approval of the articles to be
provided therein. These functioned as from 1/1/50.
These cupboards are sited at:—
Town Hall Annexe.
Church Road Clinic.
East Ham Chest Clinic (for tuberculous patients only).
East Ham District Nursing Home.
The articles stocked are as follows:—
Air bed; Bed pans, adults' (assorted sizes), children's; Bed rings (air),
adults', children's; Urinals, male, female; Rubber sheets ; Bed
linen—sheets, pillow slips, mattress covers, blankets; Sets divided
mattresses; Mattress; Feeding cups; Sputum mugs; Douche
cans; Higginson's syringes; Steam kettles; Inhalers ; Bed cradles;
Bed rests (assorted sizes) ; Water bed ; Sand bags (assorted) ; Sets
of 4 bed blocks (assorted) ; Commode—stools, chairs ; Pairs crutches
(assorted sizes) ; Walking sticks ; Wheel chairs ; Hot water bottles—
rubber, stone ; Ice bag ; Thermometers ; Camp bed ; Wheel bed ;
Garden shelter ; Electric heater blanket; Premature baby outfit.
The steady demand for nursing equipment and surgical and
medical comforts from the loan cupboards is a sure index of the
wisdom of their inception.
It is certain that this aspect of ' social medicine ' will play a
not inconsiderable part in alleviating the distress of sufferers who
cannot now be hospitalised owing to the shortage of beds for
chronic sick and tuberculous persons.