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21
Statistics, Infectious Diseases, Health Control Unit London (Heathrow) Airport
AMBULANCE CASES
Figures for ambulance cases show that there was a slight decrease in 1966, the total being 1,424,
compared with 1,566 in 1965. On the other hand, the number of invalids to be carried by car rose from
1,654 to 2,083.
Comparative figures of ambulance cases are:— 1966 1965 1964
(a) National Health Service 822 851 751
(b) Private Ambulance 520 599 492
(c) Service Ambulance 82 116 121
In addition, there were 119 patients off-loaded by B.A.A. ambulance, in transit from one aircraft
to another, who were accommodated in the holding point in the Queen's Building between flights.
MENTAL ILLNESS
The number of mentally disturbed passengers given assistance during the year was 92—a considerable
decrease from 1965, when the figure was 190.
The Mental Welfare Officers were called on 74 occasions.
MEDICAL INSPECTION OF ALIENS
During the last three years the number of aliens referred to the medical inspectors more than
doubled, and for the 12 months under review, 4,366 were seen. Of these, 3,367 came from countries in
Europe, many of them being in domestic employment, and 999 came from outside Europe. Of the
total, 4,045 were coming to the United Kingdom for periods of more than six months. Three hundred
aliens were visiting for reasons of health or to seek medical advice. One hundred and seventy-one Forms
Port 12 were issued, and 30 aliens who had been referred to the medical inspectors were refused entry.
In 21 cases, there was some form of mental disturbance; three were refused owing to pulmonary
tuberculosis, and the remainder for various other conditions.
MEDICAL INSPECTION OF COMMONWEALTH IMMIGRANTS
There has been relatively little change in the number of Commonwealth passengers referred for
medical inspection by the Immigration authorities during the past three years.
The figures are:—
1966 12,516
1965 13,249
1964 12,531
In 1966 there was a sharp fall in the number of those referred with vouchers and an equally sharp
rise of those coming into the country for settlement. In 1965 the figure for voucher-holders referred for
examination was 10,407, whilst for 1966 the figure was 4,585; the corresponding figures relating to
those coming for settlement was 2,569 in 1965 and 7,690 in 1966. Amongst other categories of Commonwealth
passengers referred, 219 were coming for reasons of health or treatment. In addition, there were
22 passengers referred by the Immigration authorities because they appeared to be ill.
One hundred and fifty-three Forms Port 23 were completed during the year, and 38 immigrants
were refused entry following referral to the medical inspectors. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the causal
condition in 28 cases, and mental illness in six.
As mentioned in previous reports, a number of passengers from Pakistan and India attempted to
enter the country by misrepresenting their age in their passports. As before, the medical inspectors
frequently were called upon to give an opinion as to the age of these young persons. In many cases, the
passengers were referred for radiological investigation at Hillingdon Hospital. A new feature in 1966
was the number of men, who, according to their passports, were over 60 and who would therefore be