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
West Ham 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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HAROLD WOOD HOSPITAL
This Hospital, which is controlled by the Health Committee,
is used chiefly for the accommodation of chronic sick cases, but
during the year a ward was re-opened for children convalescing
from infectious diseases, who were transferred from the Council's
Isolation Hospital. In addition, a section of the Hospital was
converted for the provision of wards for post-natal cases from
Forest Gate Hospital. This latter scheme has proved of great
value in reducing the very heavy demand on maternity beds at
Forest Gate Hospital.
During the year there were 447 admissions (55 males, 222
females, and 170 children). The number of discharges was 357
(11 males, 185 females, and 161 children). Deaths numbered 50
(19 males and 31 females).
MENTAL DEFICIENCY
On the 31st December, 1946, the number of defectives on
the register was 728 (351 males and 377 females). Of this
number, 668 (332 males and 336 females) were ascertained as
"subject to be dealt with," i.e., those in whose cases official
action had been taken.
DISTRIBUTION OF DEFECTIVES. The manner in
which the defectives who were on the register at the end of the
year had been dealt with is shewn in the following table:—
DISTRIBUTION OF DEFECTIVES
| Males | Females | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.- | Mental defectives ascertained to be "subiect to be dealt with": — | |||
| Number in Institutions under Order | 179 | 151 | 330 | |
| Number on licence from Institutions | 18 | 13 | 31 | |
| Number under Guardianship Orders | 3 | 5 | 8 | |
| Number in "places of safety" | 7 | 46 | *53 | |
| Number under Statutory Supervision | 111 | 112 | 223 | |
| Number in which action not yet taken under any of the above headings | 14 | 9 | 23 | |
| B.- | Mental defectives not at present "subject to be dealt with" but for whom the Local Authority may subsequently become liable | 19 | 41 | 60 |
| Total | 351 | 377 | 728 | |
The large number of "places of safety" cases is due chiefly to evacuation
from Forest Gate Hospital owing to war-time emergencies.
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