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 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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Convalescence.
The arrangements for the provision of convalescence in cases where no active medical
or nursing care is necessary were again fully used during the year, 106 adult persons being
recommended for recuperative holidays.
The sources of reference were:-
General practitioners 68
Hospitals 24
Chest Clinic 10
Other 4
Of the initial recommendations, 26 were withdrawn, either by the patient or the
referring agency, before consideration by the Council's medical officer; and of the 80
thus reviewed, 68 applications were approved, 11 were not approved, and 1 was referred to
the Chief Welfare Officer. Of the 68 approved, 4 were withdrawn for various reasons
leaving 64 for whom convalescence was arranged.
The procedure for assessment of the financial circumstances of each applicant in
accordance with the Council's scale, continued as in previous years.
The age and sex Incidence of the cases placed in convalescent homes was:-
| Sex | Under 25 | 25 - | 45 - | 65 - | 75 - | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 2 | 3 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 27 |
| Female | 3 | 4 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 37 |
| Total | 5 | 7 | 32 | 15 | 5 | 64 |
In addition to the above, 12 children under the age of 15 years were sent to
convalescent homes following recommendation by the Chest Physician as part of the preventive
care and after care of tuberculosis patients.
Details of the convalescence provided for mothers and young children and for school
children will be found on pages 51 and 119-120 respectively.
Health Education
Talks, supplemented by film strips, sound films, posters, models, etc., were given
on a variety of health subjects to parents and others at the various clinics and centres
during the year. Requests for lectures were also received from interested organisations
in the Borough.
Senior members of the department have taken part in the instruction of D.P.H.
students, student health visitors, student public health inspectors and nursery students.
Lectures were given to student nurses in the block training schemes run by the West Ham
Group Hospital Management Committee and Whipps Cross Hospital. Their syllabus includes
instruction in the social aspects of disease and requires both lectures and practical
demonstrations of the Local Authority Health Services. It is a most valuable development
in the training of the nursing profession and helps the students to understand the linking
up of the medical care of the patient before and after his stay in hospital.
73