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 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
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| The categories of those immigrants seen in 1970 was: | ||
| (a) Voucher-holders or entitled dependants | 33,325 | |
| (b) Non-entitled dependants | 11,231 | |
| (c) Those appearing to be mentally or physically abnormal | 10 | |
| (d) Those appearing not to be in good health | 4 | |
| (e) Those mentioning health as a reason for their visit | 41 | |
| The number of refusals on medical recommendation was 19. | ||
| Pulmonary tuberculosis | 7 | |
| Mental instability | 8 | |
| Trachoma | 1 | |
| Drug addiction | 1 | |
| Cardiac condition | 1 | |
| Paralysis | 1 | |
MEDICAL INSPECTION OF ALIENS
Aliens referred to the medical inspectors in 1970 8,488
1969 6,203
1968 5,351
1967 5,314
The number of Forms Port 12 completed in 1970 was 81, compared with 69 in 1969. There
were 68 refusals on medical grounds, compared with 53 in 1969. The reasons for medical recommendation
for refusal were:
Mental instability 53 Alcoholism 2
Pulmonary tuberculosis 4 Intestinal obstruction 1
Drug addiction 5 Dracunculosis and possible
Venereal disease 2 onchocerciasis 1
X-RAY UNIT
7,128 immigrants were X-rayed during the year, of which 6,767 were Commonwealth
citizens. These figures compare with 4,229 and 4,088 respectively in 1969. For much of June,
the X-ray Unit was out of action owing to the change-over from one building to another. It was
clear that with the provision of more space and better facilities, it was possible to step up the
number X-rayed. Thus between January and June, the monthly figure of those X-rayed was
between 250 and 350, whereas from July to December the monthly figure rose to between
850-950. The number of Commonwealth immigrants X-rayed represents about 16% of the total
referred to the Medical Inspectors by the Immigration Department. Although this figure may
appear to be a small percentage, it must be remembered that all voucher-holders and quite a few
non-entitled dependants, e.g. fiancees and students, are X-rayed in their country of origin;
furthermore, it is not accepted policy to X-ray young children, and finally, there are practical
difficulties in the routine X-ray of immigrants arriving in the Terminals other than No. 3.
Forty persons were discovered to have active pulmonary tuberculosis during the year, compared with 68 in 1969.
| The breakdown was: | |||
| Pakistan | 24 | Tanzania | 1 |
| India | 8 | Portugal | 1 |
| Hongkong | 4 | Gambia | 1 |
| Bahrein | 1 | ||
Ten persons were refused landing on this account—3 from Pakistan, 2 each from Hongkong
and India, 1 each Bahrein, Portugal and Gambia. Four persons were landed despite medical
recommendation to the contrary (2 from India, 1 each from Pakistan and Tanzania). A further 12
entitled immigrants were landed subject to conditional entry, 9 from Pakistan, 2 from India and
1 from Hongkong.
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