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

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East Ham 1950

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

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21
VENEREAL DISEASES.
The following statistics have been abstracted from copies of form
V.D.(R) (1950), which have been received from the Hospitals named and total
figures for 1949 and 1948 are also shewn
Patients dealt with for the first time
during 1950
Other
Syphilis
Gonorrhoea
Conditions
Total
Whitechapel Clinic, London Hospital
Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford
8
18
98
124
E. 15
10
1
25
36
St. Thomas' Hospital, S.E.I.
1
-
1
2
Albert Dock Hospital
4
4
4
12
Totals
23
23
128
174
Totals for 1948
20
23
145
205
Totals for 1949
31
33
158
222



_
ALDERSBROOK HOMES AM) SCATTERED HOMES.
The statistics for the year 1950 are appended
1. Average number in homes throughout the year 432
2. No. chargeable to East Ham on 1/1/50 110
3. No. chargeable to East Ham on 31/12/50 102
4. Average weekly admissions 10
5. Average weekly discharges 11
The high level of medical care provided for the children, both in
Aldersbrook and the scattered homes, has been maintained throughout the year.
Study of the bi-monthly reports submitted to the Children's
Committee indicates that the incidence of sickness among the children and
staff does not exceed that in the community generally, and when one considers
the initial handicaps of neglect under which many of these children labour,
the medical picture takes on a brighter hue.
The Essex County Council and the County Borough of West Ham have
steadily pursued their policy of removing children from the homes and placing
them in foster homes or Institutions under their own control, but obviously
It will be several years before full implementation of this policy is
possible.
Meanwhile efforts must be made to appraise anew the sociological
problems involved in the mass care of children, apart from their physical
welfare. On all sides it is agreed that preoccupation with the latter can
blunt the effort expended on Individual development and social readjustment
that is so often necessary before some of these children can be returned to
domestic and community life.
It is recognised that many new admissions are children emotionally
disturbed to varying degree, and rapidly to form new and harmonious relationships
to a large group is for them a heavy added burden, difficult and often
Impossible to bear without understanding and support from the staff.