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
Hampstead 1920
Report for the year 1920 of the Medical Officer of Health
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85
Dr. Mary Kidd submits the following report:—
| Kilburn. | Southend Road. | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Clinics held | 81 | 52 |
| Number of new patients | 176 | 89 |
| Number of attendances of old patients | 723 | 320 |
| Total number of attendances | 899 | 409 |
| Average attendance per diem | 11 | 7 |
| Number of patients sent to Dental Clinic | 30 | 12 |
| Number of patients referred to Tuberculosis Medical Officer as "suspects" | 9 | 4 |
As the work at the Kilburn Clinic was so rapidly increasing
it was decided by the Borough Council to have an extra session there
on Thursday mornings from 10 to 12, commencing April, 1920. The
numbers attending are satisfactory, and one now has more time for
doing pathological work, such as taking blood tests, etc., when
necessary.
Since the arrangement entered into between the Borough Council
and the District Nursing Association, the nurses working under the
latter body have been sending their patients to me, as far as possible,
for advice and treatment during pregnancy. This explains the large
increase in the number of normal cases coming to the Dispensary. I
think this is all to the good, for one has been able to give much
advice as to the hygiene of pregnancy to these expectant mothers.
Then, too, in some of these normal cases, the mother has not been
free from trouble in the post-natal period, and has returned to us for
advice and treatment.
I have been developing the post-natal side of the work a great
deal in the last year, and am encouraging the mothers to go on
attending after the confinements until they really are quite fit again
In this way I think that one can prevent many cases of sub-involution
developing into really bad cases of prolapse and chronic debility.
Also in cases where breast feeding is a difficulty owing to the
mother's ill-health, one can treat her until she is well again, and
thus enable the breast function to be satisfactorily established.