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
Battersea 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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Suitable equipment was also purchased so that it could be loaned
out if required. In addition, arrangements were made for the services
of a paediatrician to be available at the request of general practitioners
in such cases as was considered necessary. His services were not
called upon during 1947.
The following table sets out a record of the number of premature infants who were notified during 1947:—
| Born | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of premature babies | At Home | In Hospital | Total |
| Notified | 28 | 60 | 88 |
| Nursed entirely at home | 22 | — | 22 |
| Died during first 24 hours | 2 | 11 | 13 |
| Survived at the end of one month | 23 | 31 | 54 |
Toddlers' Clinic. Toddlers' Clinics are held fortnightly at five of the Infant Welfare Centres.
| No. of Sessions held | 108 |
| „ Attendances | 1,049 |
| Referred to Hospital, etc. | 153 |
| ,, Dental Clinic | 62 |
Invalid Children's Aid Association.
The Battersea Branch of this Association has since 1929 been
granted, rent free, the use of a room at Southlands as an office. The
Council also make an annual grant, which was increased during the
year to £100.
Child Life Protection.
The statutory provisions relating to infant life protection, so far
as London is concerned, are now embodied in the Public Health
( London) Act, 1936.
Foster mothers and the children in their care were visited
throughout the year by the health visiting staff, who have been
appointed by the Council as Infant Life Protection visitors. The
number of visits paid by them in 1947 to foster mothers and children
Was 217.
At the end of 1947 there were 25 Battersea foster-mothers known
to the Council, 17 of whom had nurse children in their care to the
number of 20.
Nurseries.
There are in the Borough six Day Nurseries. Four of them are
Maintained by the Council and two privately. The expenses of those
Maintained by the Council rank for a grant from the Ministry of Health
£500 whilst to one of the private nurseries—St. Margaret's—a grant of
is made under the block grant scheme of the Ministry of Health,
and to the other—Battersea Central Mission—a grant of 1s. per head
per attendance is made by the Council, the amount so expended being
recoverable from the Ministry.