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
Walthamstow 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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4. Ambulance Facilities.
These are available from a local depot in Walthamstow which
is administered centrally from Chelmsford, via the Control Centre
at Ilford.
5. Treatment of Scabies and Verminous Conditions.
The arrangement, detailed in last year's report, with the
Hackney Borough Council continued, and eight cases were referred
there during 1954 receiving fourteen treatments at a total cost of
£5 5s. Od.
6. Hospital Accommodation.
(a) Acute Cases.—There were no major changes in 1954 in
regard to the hospital accommodation available for the inhabitants of
the Borough.
(b) Chronic Cases.—Regional Hospital Boards have asked
that Medical Officers of Health shall support when necessary on
" social grounds," the recommendations of medical practitioners for
the admission of the chronic sick to hospital. All possible help was
given when requested, and only three outstanding cases remained at
the end of the year.
The following table shows the position in regard to hospital admissions considered and supported on " social " grounds.
| No. of cases at end of 1953 awaiting Hospital admission | 3 |
| No. of new cases considered during 1954 for Hospital Admission | 37 |
| No. of admissions to Hospital | 22 |
| No. of cases who died before admission | 5 |
| No. of cases cancelled or deferred | 10 |
| No. of cases outstanding at end of 1954 | 3 |
It is a pleasure again to record the unfailing help and considera'
tion experienced from Dr. DeLargy at Langthorne Hospital.
(c) Maternity.—The effect of the transfer of Thorpe Coombe
Maternity Hospital to the Regional Hospital Board has, somewhat
naturally, been to restrict the admission of Walthamstow patients
who were expected to have a normal confinement other than the
first and in favour of patients from other parts of the Hospital
Group, and presumably requiring admission on obstetric and/or
" social" grounds. At the same time it must be stated that no
patient booking late and requiring hospital accommodation either
on obstetric and/or " social " grounds has been refused admission
to some other maternity hospital by arrangement made at Thorpe
Coombe.