[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Ilkeston Borough.

  • Ilkeston (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1960
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Ilkeston Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    45% of those x-rayed were x-rayed for the first time. No definite case of tuberculosis was discovered but two cases requiring observation were referred to the Chest Physician. Three other cases with unusual shadows on their x-ray films were referred to the Chest Physician for further investigation. Three cases of probable pneumoconiosis were also discovered. Everyone re-called for re-X-ray came back, so that the survey went very smoothly and incidentally the accommodation at the Civil Defence Centre was ideal for our purpose.” General practitioners and consultants have easy access to an X-ray Department at Ilkeston Hospital. The Stanton Ironworks Company has facilities and a very good Industrial Medical Service. The Coal Board has its own arrangements for examination of employees. The people of the town appear to have adequate arrangements for examinations. The efficient case finding by general practitioners make one consider whether the Mass X-ray Unit does in fact fulfil a need in the town. It is appreciated that the people who do attend its sessions are having a voluntary quick check on their chest condition. So often however, it is found that the people who should attend have never done so. These in particular are the older age group, those with coughs, and especially those who are heavy smokers. How to persuade these people to attend is a problem. Quite a number of them seem to be immune to persuasion. Others are the people who are probably at the busiest time of their lives, at the peak of their production level and involved in many activities. From years of experience do they tend to disregard propaganda ? Unless more of these people can be persuaded to attend the unit, its usefulness in the town is much reduced. HOUSING There is admiration for the standard of new houses built and for the way in which they are laid out. It is a great advance on many of the older ideas of planning and building. Thought, progress and change are so rapid however that new ideas are already coming to the fore, probably hastened by building developments and experiences in the new towns. Some expressions of concern have been heard at the increasing amount of motor traffic on Council Estates ; the demand for garage sites makes this increase quite clear. There are many children on these estates and whilst there are open spaces it is far too easy and too common for children to play on paths and roads. Much of this is unavoidable but it is a point for consideration in future lay-outs. A large number of people have no use for gardens but almost all houses are provided with a suitable plot of ground. There are a number of points for consideration.