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
Kingston upon Thames 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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71
The Registers
A register of handicapped persons is kept in accordance with
the requirements of the Department of Health and Social Security. There
were 1420 persons registered at 31st December 1970.
The grouping of disabilities is in accordance with the
Medical Research Council's code of diseases and disabilities, as used
by the Department of Employment and Productivity.
Registers as at 31st December 1970
| Male | Female | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blind Persons | 114 | 206 | 320 |
| Partially Sighted | 32 | 41 | 73 |
| Deaf with Speech | 7 | 9 | 16 |
| Deaf without Speech | 26 | 26 | 52 |
| Hard of Hearing | 12 | 23 | 35 |
| Other Handicapped (General Classes) | 377 | 547 | 924 |
| Totals | 568 | 852 | 1420 |
The Blind Register
Registration is determined by examination by an ophthalmologist
of consultant status and appointments for examination are made
through the department. Once a person is registered every effort is
made to overcome as far as possible the effects of the disability.
A register is kept of those persons who wish to obtain the
advantages of registration and come within the definition of blindness
given in Appendix III to the Ministry of Health Circular 4/55, namely
"so blind as to be unable to perform any work for which eyesight is
essential." This disability refers to any work and not the particular
occupation of the person being examined, and does not take account of
any other physical or mental defect.
The number of registered blind persons showed a decrease of
19 over the previous year. The following tables show the age distribution
of the blind population registered with the department on 31st
December 1970.