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 1942
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth Borough]
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GENERAL PROVISIONS OF HEALTH SERVICES IN TUB AREA.
Nursing in the Home.
The number of visits paid to children under five
years of age was 3,762 (3,151) and to persons over five
years of age 913 (1,034).
Welfare Centres.
| Total individual cases dealt with | 16,140 | (15,128) |
| „ sessions hold | 2, 636 | (2,558) |
| „ ante-natal cases. | 3,566 | (2,496) |
| „ post-natal cases | 888 | (438) |
| „ nursing mothers | 4,600 | (3,360) |
| „ infants under 1 | 3,800 | (4,176) |
| „ children 1-5 | 3,286 | (4,658) |
| Visits paid to A/N cases | 7,232 | (5,382) |
| „ „ „ P/N cases | 2,377 | (1,603) |
| „ „ „ nursing mothers | 22,417 | (19,937) |
| „ „ „ infants under 1 | 19,564 | (16,911) |
| „ „ „ children 1-5 | 41,927 | (38,487) |
The fall in numbers attending is due to evacuation,
to the Government milk scheme and to the increasing number
of mothers at work.
In spite of the diminution in numbers compared with
pre-war population the work and responsibilities have
increased as the Government milk scheme is largely worked
through the welfare centres and the distribution of vitamins
entirely so. These two items have added materially to the
clerical work of the welfare centre -staffs, who in some
instances have voluntarily started savings associations in
addition.
Child Life Protection.
599 visits and re-visits were made to foster mothers
and nurse children.
Poster mothers on Register at 31.12.42. 34 (23)
Nurse children on Register at 31.12.42. 41 (27)
Assistance towards cost of Midwives.
Nil (Nil)
Home Helps.
151 (103) applications and home helps provided
cost to Council £223.10s.0d.
These are becoming increasingly difficult to
arrange as most women go out to work but so far no failure
has been reported.
Dentures for expectant and nursing mothers.
22 (4) applications received and dentures provided
coat to Council £62.2s.6d.
The scale of assessment was found to be too low and
with the approval of the Ministry of Health there was an all
round increase of four shillings which entitles many more
women to apply for help.
Sterile Maternity Outfits.
1 (Nil)
4.