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
Sutton 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton]
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Venereal Disease
Notification of new cases of Sutton residents from hospital treatment centres during the last 3 years are as follows:-
| 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syphilis | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Gonorrhoea | 44 | 56 | 45 |
| Other Venereal Conditions | 304 | 439 | 518 |
| TOTAL | 355 | 500 | 565 |
It will be noted that the percentage increase during 1970 was lower than the
increase during 1969. Nevertheless it is a very high figure and the total number of cases is,
in fact, almost as high as all other notifiable diseases combined.
Every effort is made to follow up contacts and arrange for investigation and
treatment if found necessary.
The increase in the number of cases is undoubtedly due to two factors - more
promiscuity amongst the young and the use of the contraceptive pill thereby diminishing
the protection given by the use of sheaths.
The Director of the Mass Radiography Unit has supplied the following statistics:
| 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total x-rayed | 2822 | 11006 | 3018 | |||
| Cases of Lung Cancer | M | F | M | F | M | F |
| 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | - | |
| Cases of Pulmonary T.B. | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | - |
It will be noted that the number of defects found during 1970 was low. There
has, in fact, been a decreasing number of cases found during the last few years as a result
of which the Regional Hospital Board has under consideration reducing the number of sites
at which the Mass Radiography Unit will be situate in future. The Unit has only one site
in the Borough when a weekly visit is made to Wallington Town Hall. It has not been
possible to persuade the Director of the Unit to increase the number of sites since the
x-ray facilities at St. Helier Hospital are within reasonable distance of the remainder of
the Borough.
It will be noted that the total number of x-rayed during 1970 shows a considerable
drop compared with 1969. In 1969 the Unit was available to the general public on
several sites in the borough for several days but during 1970 no such service was offered
to the general public.
Immigration
Under the Commonwealth Immigration Act 1962 the Medical Officer of
Health is notified of all long-stay immigrants who are visited as soon as possible after
arrival. Enquiries are made regarding the health of the immigrant, x-ray of chest is
recommended and the immigrants are given advice regarding medical services.
12
The number of long-stay immigrants in the Borough remains remarkably
small and the majority are employed in hospitals.