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
Hillingdon 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
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| Total No. of Aircraft issued with Disinsectization Certificates | 576 |
| No. of cases for which Mental Welfare Officer was called | 105 |
| No. of Aliens inspected under Aliens Order | 6,203 |
| No. of Forms Port 12 issued | 69 |
| No. of Aliens refused entry | 53 |
| No. of Commonwealth Immigrants examined | 44,575 |
| No. of Forms Port 23 issued | 58 |
| No. of Commonwealth Immigrants refused entry | 16 |
| No. of Immigrants X-rayed | 4,229 |
| No. of Long-Stay Immigrants Notifications sent to Medical Officers of Health | 28,672 |
| No. of Surveillance Notifications sent to Medical Officers of Health | 2,808 |
| No. of Smallpox Vaccinations carried out | 10,254 |
| No. of Cholera Vaccinations carried out | 611 |
| No of Yellow Fever Vaccinations carried out | 103 |
| No. of I.B.548's sent to Medical Officers of Health | 145 |
Medical Inspection of Commonwealth Immigrants
During the year, the number of immigrants from Commonwealth countries referred to the
medical inspectors was 44,575, compared with 46,828 during 1968. Only 16 immigrants were refused
admission to land on medical grounds, 10 on account of pulmonary tuberculosis and 6 owing to
mental instability.
The system of medically examining immigrant voucher-holders in their country of origin was
introduced in 1967 and by 1969, this system had been adopted by virtually all Commonwealth
countries. On the whole, the arrangement works well. During the year, this practice was extended
to cover non-entitled dependants, and it is hoped that gradually more and more of this category will
be examined in their country of origin, and that the practice will spread from one country to another
in the same way that it has in regard to the examination of voucher-holders.
Comparative figures over the last five years are:—
| 1965 | 13,249 |
| 1966 | 12,516 |
| 1967 | 16,061 |
| 1968 | 46,828 |
| 1969 | 44,575 |
Of the total referred, 34,180 represented either voucher-holders or entitled dependants, i.e. wives
or young children, whilst 10,302 were non-entitled dependants, i.e. students, fiancees or elderly
relatives. Fifty-six immigrants were referred because, in the course of their interrogation by the
immigration authorities, they mentioned their health as a reason for their visit; thirty-three immigrants
were referred because they appeared to the immigration officer either mentally or physically sick,
whilst four were referred because their appearance suggested to the immigration officer that they were
bodily dirty.
Medical Inspection of Aliens
During the year 6,203 aliens were referred for medical inspection, compared with 5,351 in 1968
and 5,314 in 1967. Forms Port 12 were issued on 69 occasions. Fifty-three aliens were refused entry
on grounds of health; of these, 40 were mentally unstable, 3 were suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis,
6 from drug addiction, 2 from venereal disease and two for other reasons.
The Abortion Act appears to have opened the flood gates to foreign women anxious to take
advantage of its provisions and during the year very many young women both from the Continent
and from the United States entered the United Kingdom to have their pregnancies terminated.