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
Ilford 1943
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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30
The average length of stay in Hospital was for:—
Scarlet Fever 21.9 days
Diphtheria 45.1
Tuberculous Diseases 91.0 ,,
Average stay in Hospital of all cases 29.0 ,,
The above averages are based on cases that completed their stay in
Hospital during the year.
Average number of patients in Hospital per day 137.5.
Scarlet Fever.—The diagnosis of scarlet fever could not be confirmed in
17 patients admitted. One death occurred during the year—a female
patient, aged 32 years, five days after admission.
Diphtheria.—The following table shows the percentage death-rate of
cases of diphtheria admitted to the Ilford Isolation Hospital during the
past five years, the rate being calculated each year only on those admissions
which proved to be clinically diphtheria.
1939 1940 1941 1942 1943
Ilford 1.3 2.4 7.1 Nil 9.1
Three deaths occurred—two male and one female patients, ages 5, 9
and 19 years; one within 7 days of admission, one immediately after
admission and the other within 5 days of admission. All were of the toxic
type and in view of their occurrence, I sent a circular letter to all doctors
in the district informing them of the facts. None of these 3 fatal cases had
been previously immunised against Diphtheria.
Tuberculosis.—145 cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis were admitted, as
compared with 132 in 1942.
Number of patients in Hospital on 1st January, 1943 and 1944. respectively:—
| 1st Jan., 1943 | 1st Jan., 1944 | |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 50 | 39 |
| Diphtheria | 15 | 25 |
| Tuberculous Diseases | 64 | 47 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 2 | 1 |
| Erysipelas | 1 | — |
| Pneumonia | 8 | 27 |
| Acute Rheumatism | — | 5 |
| Mumps | 1 | — |
| Whooping Cough | — | 3 |
| Scabies | 3 | 1 |
| Observation and other cases | 6 | 5 |
The arrangements entered into with the Essex County Council, whereby beds were allocated to the use of Tuberculosis patients, were as follows during 1943:—
| Block. | No. of Beds. | Period occupied. | Charges per bed per week. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | 1 Jan.-31 Dec. | 11 Jan.-31 March, at £3 3s., as and when occupied. |
| 2 | 6 | 1 Jan.-31 Dec. | 1 1 Apri)-31 Dec., at £3 12s. 6d., whether or not occupied. |
| 6 | 20 | 1 Jan.-31 Dec. | 1 Jan.-31 March, 12 beds, at £2 5s. 1 Jan.-31 March, 8 beds, at £2 12s. 6d. 1 1 April-31 Dec., 20 beds, at £3 12s. 6d. 1 whether or not occupied. |
| 10 | 20 | 1 Jan.-25 Nov | 1 Jan.-31 March, at £3 3s., as and when occupied. 1 April-25 Nov., at £3 12s. 6d., whether or not occupied. |
On the 25th November it became necessary to evacuate the 20 beds
in Block 10 in order to provide accommodation for persons suffering from
influenzal pneumonia.