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

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Finsbury 1939

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]

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INFANT MORTALITY. There were 23 deaths of infants under one year of age. The causes of deaths were as follows

Pneumonia (all forms)3
Diarrhoea7
Congenital debility, premature birth, malformation, etc.8
Violence1
Other defined diseases4
Total

SECTION "B" - GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES
Staff. On the outbreak of the war all the members of the staff were allocated to
assist in A.R.P. Services, and for a few weeks were employed largely in the organisation
of the several services. The Public Health Department continued throughout,
however, to maintain the essential services and by October the Health Services had
returned fully to their pre-war activities. Most of the staff, however, continued to
give a great deal of their time to Civil Defence, in addition to undertaking their
normal, and in some cases, actually increased normal duties.
Dr. C.O.S. Blyth Brooke, Deputy Medical Officer of Health, in October 1939 was
appointed as Medical Officer of Health in succession to Dr. Nicholas D. Dunscombe who
had resigned on appointment elsewhere. The following members of the staff joined
H.M. Forces Mr. G.E. Hawthorn, Mr. A.F. Cowan and Mr, W.C.E. Keutenius. Temporary
appointments were subsequently made to provide service during the absence of these
officers.

Laboratory. The examinations undertaken in 1939 in the Council's Laboratory were as follows : –

Throat & Nose Swabs752
Milk Samples78
Ice-cream Samples14
Swimming-Bath Waters4

Treatment Centres and Clinics. The following is a summary of clinics, sessions and attendances :-

ClinicsNo. of SessionsTotal Attendances
Foot4852,241
Dental1482,139
Artificial Sunlight & Massage3446,910
Women's65638
Cleansing Station – open continuously -Scabies2,415
Vermin2,007

Despite the outbreak of war the first year's work, both of the Dental Clinic and
of the Artificial Sunlight & Massage Clinic has been one of steady growth. In both
Clinics it was necessary to arrange for additional sessions and this necessitated the
appointment of two extra part-time assistants in the Artificial Sunlight & Massage
Clinic. There was also a steady responsel, uninterrupted by the war, to the Women's
Clinic which is undoubtedly fulfilling a widespread want in the borough.
Nursing in the Home. The arrangements with the Metropolitan District Nursing Association
to undertake the nursing of cases of illness occurring in expectant and nursing
mothers, and the nursing of children under 5 years of age suffering from any illness,
and of tuberculous patients at home, was continued throughout the year, the total
number of visits being 16,688 (581 cases).
Ambulance Facilities are provided by the London County council and the St. John's
Ambulance Brigade.