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 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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Sources of Referral 1951 1950
Goodmayes Hospital 31 4l
Whipps Cross Hospital 2 1
Queen Mary's Hospital 3 6
London Hospital 1 1
Disablement Resettlement Officer 3 1
Voluntary Agencies 1 5
Patients' relatives and friends through
v
various sources of information 6
Patients themselves 3 3
Probation Officers 3 2
Chest Clinic 4 4
General Practitioners - 3
Public Health Department
Child Guidance Clinic 3 2
Maternity and Child Welfare Department 12 4
Deputy Medical Officer of Health 4
Duly Authorised Officers 6 3
LUNACY AND MENTAL TREATMENT ACTS.
The arrangements for obtaining the services of the Duly Authorised Officers are
unchanged, A twenty-four hour rota system is operated by the three male officers; calls
for their services after normal office hours being made through the Council's Ambulance
Control.
During the year the Officers were called upon on 302 occasions, with the following results:-
| Disposal of Cases | M, | F. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admitted to mental hospitals ass- | |||
| fa) Voluntary patients | 14 | 62 | 106 |
| (b) Urgency Orders | 21 | 25 | 46 |
| (c) Temporary Orders | 4 | 7 | 11 |
| (d) Certified Cases | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| (e) Observation | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| No statutory action taken | 57 | 71 | 128 |
| Totals: | 128 | 174 | 302 |
In addition to the above 166 visits were made in connection with mental illness.
In a number of cases where the advice of the officers was sought, arrangements were
made, with the consent of the patients' doctors, for patients to attend the Psychiatric
Clinic for treatment. The need for admission to a mental hospital is often obviated in
such cases.
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