London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Kensington 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]

This page requires JavaScript

60
Arrangements for Securing the Examination and Systematic Supervision of Home Contacts.
Special efforts are made to secure the examination of all "home contacts" of notified cases.
Every "home contact" is visited at the home at least three times if necessary by the Health Officer
with a view to inducing him to attend the Dispensary.
Perhaps one of the most encouraging features of the work is the steady rise in the number of
"home contacts" examined year by year in relation to the number of cases notified.
There were 790 contacts traced by the Dispensary Service in 1927. Of these, 437 were examined
one or more times by the Tuberculosis Officer, 145 were examined by their own doctors or had been
recently examined at school, while 208 refused examination.
The endeavour to secure a second examination of the "home contacts" of infectious cases
after approximately one year's interval, especially young adult cases whose age renders them more
vulnerable, has been continued. These examinations are not included in the above totals. Any
cases the least suspicious or with a bad family history are further supervised.
Dental Treatment of Tuberculous Persons.
The scheme for the dental treatment of tuberculous persons upon the Dispensary premises,
which was instituted in the year 1920, has been continued.
The Dentist who had carried out this work on behalf of the Council since October, 1924,
resigned on the 20th July, and, as the Public Health Committee had entered upon the Summer
vacation, temporary arrangements were made for the treatment of those patients who were in need
of urgent attention at the Hammersmith Dispensary of the British Dental Hospital. On the 27th
September the Council appointed Mr. A. Dreaper, L.D.S. (R.C.S.), as Dental Officer.

The work done at the Dispensary during the year is shown in the following table:-

Dentist's attendances at the Dispensary36
Number of individual patients treated25
Patients attendances68
Number of fillings4
Number of extractions72
Number of dentures arranged for8

In addition to the above, four patients received treatment at the Hammersmith Dispensary of
the British Dental Hospital. Three of these were supplied with dentures and necessary extractions
were made in the fourth case.
Artificial Pneumothorax Treatment.
During the year the Council undertook to pay for artificial pneumothorax treatment in two
cases and the payments amounted to £16 5s. 6d.
Home Nursing.
The arrangements made by the Council for nursing in the homes of the poor to be carried
out by the Kensington District Nursing Association include the home nursing of tuberculosis.
The Association is represented upon the Tuberculosis Care Committee and in this manner
provision is made for co-operation between the two bodies.

The cases of tuberculosis attended and the visits paid by the Nurses of the Association during the past five years are shown in the following table:—

Year.Cases.Visits.
192339638
192435575
192536614
192634987
192722804

The nurses carry out their work splendidly and are very much appreciated by the poor.
Supply of Extra Nourishment to Tuberculous Persons.
Applications for the supply of extra nourishment to tuberculous persons are dealt with by
the Tuberculosis Care Committee. In the administration of this assistance the principle that
temporary assistance only shall be given is followed.
The assistance given is generally one pint of milk and one new-laid egg daily and usually covers a
period of one month, the patients having to make an application for the renewal of the grant if
desired.