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 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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SECTION 28: PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER-CARE
TUBERCULOSIS
The statistics relating to notified cases of tuberculosis are given in an
earlier section, page The number of new cases of tuberoulosis notified each
year continues to decline. The number of deaths due to pulmonary tuberculosis in
1958 was 15.
The close co-operation between the Chest Clinic and the Health Department
has continued. The senior members of the Health Department and the Chest Physician
meet for regular conferences and the close working liaison has been maintained.
CHEST CLINIC
I am indebted to the Consultant Chest Physioian, Dr. D.J.Lawless, who has
supplied the following notes on the Public Health aspects of the work undertaken
at the Chest Clinio:
Examination of contacts of known oases of tuberoulosis As soon after notification
as possible all immediate contacts of new cases of tuberoulosis are examined at the
Clinic i.e. members of the family and others in close association, and are thereafter
kept under periodic review until all danger of infection is past. Children who are
found to be tuberculin negative are given B.C.G. vaccination where the parents agree.
Number of contacts examined in relation to number of notified cases
| New Contaots examined | New notified cases on Clinic register | Average number of contacts examined per notified case | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 403 | 177 | 2.28 |
| 1950 | 421 | 186 | 2.26 |
| 1951 | 643 | 196 | 3.28 |
| 1952 | 794 | 202 | 3.93 |
| 1953 | 916 | 226 | 4.05 |
| 1954 | 996 | 194 | 5.13 |
| 1955 | 605 | 157 | 3.85 |
| 1956 | 581 | 132 | 4.40 |
| 1957 | 529 | 111 | 4.76 |
| 1958 | 529 | 114 | 4.64 |
Employment and rehabilitation of tuberculosis cases.
Liaison continues with the Ministry of Labour and National Service with regard to
the rehabilitation and re-employment of cases of tuberculosis. In the case of unemployable
patients, occupational therapy is provided by the Local Authority. Suitable patients,
on completion of their treatment, are given the opportunity of training in various occupations
at Ministry of Labour establishments.
Notification of deaths from tuberculosis
Notifications of deaths from tuberoulosis in respect of patients not already known
to the Clinic are sometimes received. The contacts of these are offered examination at
the Clinic.
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