[Report 1963] / Medical Officer of Health, Wigan County Borough.

  • Wigan (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1963
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1963] / Medical Officer of Health, Wigan County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    66/128 (page 52)
    the times and places of all special clinics held in the Manchester region is given to the patient to pass on to the contact. As a result the following patients attended :•— Male Female Syphilis. . 2 2 Gonorrhoea — 3 Non-Venereal . 1 1 During 1963 three children born of mothers who had been treated for syphilis were examined, blood-tested and found to be free from venereal disease. Patients failing to attend for treatment are the biggest problem and 40 letters were sent to try and persuade them to attend. Of these 33 reported for further investigation and treatment. The total number of patients remain¬ ing on the register at 31st December, 1963 was 80, a decrease of four over last year. Tuberculosis Statistical information regarding the prevalence of and mortality from tuberculosis will be found in that section of the Report dealing with infectious diseases. The Tuberculosis Visitor is a full-time member of the Local Authoritv */ Health Visiting Staff, her work being divided between attendance with the Chest Physician at the Dispensary and visiting patients in their homes. During the year, 2,019 home visits were paid by the tuberculosis health visitor. The number of new contacts examined during the past three years was as follows :— 1961 1962 1963 Adults Children Total Adults Children Total Adults Children Total 100 110 210 128 162 290 120 237 357 Contacts of positive cases under supervision, 31st December, 1963 .... 190 Contacts under supervision after B.C.G. inoculation .... .... .... 493 The average number of contacts per case of pulmonary T.B. is as follows :— 1961 1962 1963 Tuberculosis Notifications : Pulmonary .... 34 25 38 Other forms .... 2 2 3 No. of contacts per case-(pulmonary only) .... 6.2 8.2 9.4 All cases of death from respiratory tuberculosis which remained un¬ notified during life are the subject of special contact investigations. The responsibility of the Council for providing care and after-care services at present is being discharged through a voluntary Care Committee. The aims of this Committee may be stated as follows :— 1. To provide extra nourishments, nursing utensils, wheel chairs, etc. 2. To help in providing extra clothing needed by the patients, especially when they go into sanatorium and on their return home. 3. To visit and give friendly advice. 4. To assist in educating public opinion in matters of health in regard to Tuberculosis. 5. To give assistance in providing tools in cases where tuberculous persons entering into employment are not so assisted by the Ministry of Labour. The Chest Physician acts as Honorary Medical Officer to this Committee. During the year arrangements were continued for organised classes in all manner of light craft work and sewing. These were well attended, although we lack a suitable building where fixed equipment can be erected.