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
Wandsworth 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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Maternity and Child Welfare. 63
There were 3,940 births during the year, and 3,313 of these,
or 84.0 per cent., were visited compared with 86.5 in 1936, 90.0
in 1935, and 88.4 in 1934.
It was found that in 263 of the births, doctors had been in
attendance, while in 825 the services of midwives had been
utilised. 2,225 infants were born in hospitals and other institutions.
The following Table shows the number of occasions on which
the Health Visitors attended clinics, etc.
TABLE XXIX.
| Clapham. | Putney. | Balham. | Streatham. | Tooting. | Wandsworth. | Whole Borough. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attendances at:— Infant Welfare Centres | 112 | 224 | 181 | 426 | 307 | 493 | 1743 |
| Diphtheria Prevention Clinics | - | - | 50 | - | - | 42 | 92 |
| Ante-natal Clinics | 25 | 32 | 30 | 47 | 20 | 61 | 215 |
| Visits to Crftches | - | 10 | 12 | - | - | 16 | 38 |
| Committee Meetings | 4 | 14 | - | 3 | 8 | 4 | 33 |
Infant Welfare Centres.
There are 12 Infant Welfare Centres in the Borough. Until
1937 all of these were voluntary institutions administered by the
Committees of the Centres working in close co-operation with the
Maternity and Child Welfare Committee of the Council.
During the year the offices of the Public Health Department,
with the other Departments of the Council, were transferred to
the new Municipal Buildings. Accommodation for a Clinic had
been provided in the Public Health section of this Building and
the Council decided to transfer the Infant and Ante-natal Sessions
previously held at the Fairfield Centre to the new Clinic. It was
decided to make the Clinic a municipal one, under the direct