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 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
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Security returns, and involve many variable factors. These had complicated the working party's
assessment of their true value, in comparison with other local authority rates.
Thirdly a statistical survey involving a 20% stratified sample of the Borough's family doctors
revealed a considerable degree of support among the general practitioners, and a likely 60%
acceptance rate for the computer service.
It was concluded from these investigations that the main areas of benefit lay in the provision of
a detailed computerised filing system, and the close co-partnership with the Hillingdon family
doctors, which would result from their involvement in the scheme. It was decided to recommend the
adoption of the computer system, and arrangements were made for the service to commence on
3rd July 1972. The details of each child, who was born on or after 1st January 1971, were entered
on the computer file.
The working arrangements of the computer section are best illustrated by two "flow charts"
which demonstrate the daily inflow, processing and delivery of information within the department,
and which are recorded on the two following pages.
| Number of Hillingdon Children on the Computer File | 6,505 |
| Number of Treatment Centre Clinics | 32 |
| Number of family doctors in the service | 70 |
| Number of Vision tests recorded | 211 |
| Number of Hearing tests recorded | 282 |
| Number of children on the Observation Register | 1,065 |
| Average weekly number of inoculations | 500 |
The adoption of a computer system has provided a considerable degree of challenge to the
Health Department. In the initial months of the service, there were many alterations in working
procedures, and the staff were required to adjust to the change from a manual recording system of
information to the sophistication of a computer. It is pleasant to record that this difficult period of
transition has been carried out smoothly and efficiently. Mr. Benson, Mr. Feasey and the staff in
the immunisation and vaccination section have operated the new service with considerable
skill, and have received full co-operation from all clinic staff. With the expanding range of techniques
in health monitoring and screening, it is confidently anticipated that the computer will
play an increasing role in a modern Health Service. By the adoption of the computer system, the
Health Department has taken an initial step in preparation for these future developments.
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