View report page

existing housing circumstances in cases which would not otherwise qualify for rehousing. Of the
45 special recommendations made in 1971, 36 of them were from applicants in the pensionable
age group and a review of the "specials" made over the past five years is of interest.
1967
1968
1969
18
25
23
1970
1971
15
45
From these figures it is seen that the number of special recommendations made over the
previous four years varied from 15 to 25 but during 1971, the number rose to 45. The same medical
officer has been responsible for making the assessments over the five year period so it is unlikely that
a variation in standard of assessment has played any significant part in this increase. It is recognised
that the percentage of elderly people in the community continues to increase and the number of
elderly persons who are meeting with difficulty in their accommodation due to the infirmities and
illnesses which come with advancing years is increasing and it is clear that the specialist housing
needs of the elderly will require continuing attention.
Mass radiography was originally introduced as part of the tuberculosis control programme
with a view to detecting cases of tuberculosis through factory and office surveys and radiography
of the general public. In 1954, a total of 8,720 cases of active respiratory tuberculosis were detected
throughout the country by this service but from this peak, there has been a steady fall in the number
of new cases discovered. The examinations which yield the highest proportion of new cases of
active disease are those performed at the request of family doctors and a review by the Department
of Health and Social Security of the effectiveness of the Mass Miniature Radiography Service
suggested that the general need for mass radiography of the chest no longer exists. The Secretary
of State's Standing Medical Advisory Committee recommended that the number of mass miniature
radiography units should be reduced and during 1970, regional hospital boards throughout the
country considered, in consultation with local health authorities, how the need for chest X-ray
services in their regions could best be met, with a view to integrating mass miniature radiography
units with hospital radiological departments.
The North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board considered the future of the mass
radiography service in the region in the light of the recommendation of the Department of Health
and Social Security and were of the opinion that with the low incidence of new cases found
through general factory and office surveys in this region and through radiography of the general
public, the need for mass radiography which the service was established to meet no longer existed.
Following consultation with local health authorities, executive councils and local medical committees,
the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board formulated a policy which provided
amongst other things, that—
(a) references by general practitioners should be concentrated as opportunity arises on the
static mass X-ray units, chest clinics and hospital X-ray departments;
(b) routine surveys should be withdrawn in areas where the yield is consistently low;
(c) special epidemiological situations should be investigated by mobile units;
(d) a mobile service should be continued in the susceptible communities such as prisons,
schools, etc.
(e) as far as practicable, the units should continue to serve local authorities for the examination
of teachers, health visitors and other staff involved with young children.
The North West Regional Hospital Board have given an assurance that the services of the
mobile units will not be withdrawn until the Board are satisfied that hospital X-ray departments
can deal with the increased work load. During 1971, chest X-ray facilities continued to be provided
at six points reasonably accessible to residents of the Borough as listed on page 107.
MASS RADIOGRAPHY
106