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
Lambeth 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth Borough]
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GENERAL PROVISIONS OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA
Nursing in the Home
The number of visits paid to children under five years
of age was 5,884 (5,012) and to persons over five years of age
1,506 (1,622)
Welfare Centres
| Total individual cases dealt with | 21,537 | (22,517) | ||
| " sessions held | 2,620 | ( 3,825) | ||
| " attendances A/N cases | 10,151 | (16,235) | ||
| " " P/N cases | 2,179 | ( 3,758) | ||
| " " nursing raothers | 33,694 | (41,989) | ||
| " " infants under 1 | 34,902 | (46,449) | ||
| " " children 1-5 | 23,071 | (32,188) | ||
| Visits paid to A/IT cases | 6,636 | ( 8,300) | ||
| " " " P/lI cases | 2,494 | ( 2,217) | ||
| " " " nursing mothers | 22,323 | (24,945) | ||
| " " " infants under 1 | 20,471 | (23,212) | ||
| 11 " " children 1-5 | 37,681 | (44,872) | ||
The fall in numbers attending is due to evacuation and
to the Government milk scheme. Visits are reduced to some extent
by the loan of health visitors to reception areas.
The Voluntary Welfare Centres were faced with serious
financial troubles and a number were obliged to ask for further
help from the Council. This was readily granted and as a war
measure subject to a closer financial control among other things
they have agreed to a reduction in their voluntary status. They
are however still administered by voluntary committees upon all
of which the Council is represented. The movements of families
due to destruction of dwellings has made the task of keeping
in touch with them both difficult and time wasting.
The duties of the staffs of the centres have been hard
but contact with the population has been maintained well
throughout the year by visits to the homes.
Child Life Protection
794 visits and re-visits were made to foster mothers
and nurse children.
Poster mothers on Register at 31.12.40 28 (39)
Nurse children on Register at 31.12.40 29 (42)
Maternity Home
417 (572) cases were admitted during the year.
The home was closed in the autumn after severe damage
when mercifully there were no casualties, and the staff now run
the Home Farm Maternity Home,Tring, for the Herts. County Council.
Assistance towards cost of Midwives
24 (35) applications - 1 cancelled
23 (35) midwives provided - cost to Council £30:10s:6d.
Home Helps
207 (169) applications - 4(3) cancelled
203 (164) home helps provided -
cost to Council £184:17s:6d.