Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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ment refused. Case reported to Area Welfare Officer who
subsequently persuaded patient to accept Part III accommodation.
Admitted on 8th December, 1955.
Case 7 (R.S.) Female, 54 years. Attention was drawn to
this case by an anonymous letter. Home nursing arranged, but
hospitalisation required. Provisional approval for Compulsory
Removal obtained. Remained under the care of her doctor and
Home Nurse.
Case 8 (W.E.D.) Male, 80 years. Reported by principal
tenant. Report sent to Area Welfare Officer who promised to
try and persuade patient to accept residential accommodation.
Admitted to Langthorne Hospital on 25th November, 1955.
Case 9 (A.G.) Female, 88 years. This patient with rheumatoid
arthritis referred by the Family Doctor who had arranged physiotherapy.
The patient refused a period of convalencence. The
Family Doctor was called by other tenants who had found the
patient lying at the foot of the stairs. Arrangements made for
admission to Langthorne Hospital where she was admitted on
30th November, 1955. The patient is reported to have stated
"she is getting the very best care and attention and it is
wonderful to have a warm bed and plenty of good food."
Case 10 (F.J.T.) Female, 85 years. Grandson living in same
house complained of way grandparents were living. Arrangements
made for home nursing and laundry service for the
incontinent put into operation as the patient refused to enter
hospital. Refused examination by Family Doctor and Geriatric
Consultant. Subsequently removed to Langthorne Hospital
suffering from BronchcPneumonia, where she died on the same
day, i.e., 22nd December, 1955.
Case 11 (V.J.) Female, 73 years. Domestic Help Organiser
reported patient virtually helpless from arthritis and although
she had two recent falls, she refused to go to hospital. Domestic
help, "Meals on Wheels" and Home Nursing were arranged.
The Home Nurse and Domestic Help were requested to keep on
reiterating the need for hospital treatment. The patient finally
agreed to go to hospital and was removed early in January, 1956.
The summaries given above are taken from the appropriate
files, but it is hard to convey the measures of the anxiety, time and
trouble involved in dealing with these cases by all concerned, i.e.,
the medical, nursing and sanitary staff of the Health Department,
the hospital and welfare authorities and the Old People's Welfare