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
Merton 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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Most of the treatment that has been undertaken in the surgery
has been on patients who would have otherwise have required a domiciliary
visit by the nurse.
Number of patients seen by the nurse in surgeries—470.
Treatments given—
Dressings 111
Ear syringing 114
Injections 423
Blood samples taken. 17
Totals 665
Post-Registration Courses
First line Management Courses were completed by three Nursing
Officers. Five staff attended practical work instructors' courses, and
two attended general refresher courses. Thirteen staff attended day
courses on various subjects, in order to maintain and improve technical
skills and theoretical knowledge.
The table below gives details of the numbers of cases on the books at the beginning and end of the year, the cases added and disposed of during the period and the age groups into which they fall:
| Age group | Cases on books at 1.1.71 | Cases added | Cases removed | Cases on books at end of year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 years | 2 | 5 | 7 | - |
| 5-64 years | 169 | 767 | 761 | 175 |
| 65 years and over | 781 | 1,471 | 1,386 | 866 |
| Totals | 952 | 2,243 | 2,154 | 1,041 |
The total number of cases attended during the year was 3,195
and the total number of visits made was 108,442.
Marie Curie Foundation Cancer Nursing Service
This Authority acts as agents for the Marie Curie Memorial
Foundation who bear the initial costs of the Day and Night Cancer
Nursing Service supplied locally to any cancer patient being nursed
at home and in need of additional care, especially night attendance.
The Authority reimburses the Foundation with one-third of the annual
expenditure on this service. The service is staffed by qualified nursing
staff and unqualified staff, the appropriate person being sent to each
case as necessary. The service is run through the Home Nursing
Service. Twenty-seven patients were nursed during 1971, receiving
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