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
Coulsdon and Purley 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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During 1945, however, it became impossible for the Croydon
Association to cope with the large number of cases seeking advice from
this and other Districts. As a result the Council established a Family
Planning Clinic at 69, Brighton Road, Purley, the sessions being held
on the second Tuesday in each month, when cases are seen by appointment.
At the two sessions held in 1945, 23 attendances were made.
Unfortunately the scope of the work has had to be curtailed as
compared with previous years, owing to the fact that only cases in which
birth control is justified on medical grounds can be advised on this
subject. This, however, is not the only aspect of family planning which
is dealt with at the Council's clinic, cases of sterility being the next most
important group seeking advice.
Health Visitation.
The Council had just appointed a fourth Health Visitor as the war
broke out, but the effect of this increase was not felt until 1940. With
the increasing number of births further staff became necessary and from
22nd May, 1944, five Health Visitors have been employed, who work
under the general supervision of the Medical Officer of Health.
The following table gives a statistical statement of their work during the war years:—
| 1938. | 1939. | 1940. | 1941. | 1942. | 1943. | 1944. | 1945. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of births notified | 738 | 762 | 626 | 592 | 852 | 901 | 853 | 750 |
| N umber of Health Visitors | 3 | 3-4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4-5 | 5 |
| Total visits by Health Visitors | 6,677 | 7,024 | 9,192 | 7,888 | 7,924 | 8,341 | 10,309 | 8,340 |
| Percentage of births visited | 92 | 87 | 86 | 82 | 91 | 93 | 91 | 94 |
| Primary visits made | 681 | 666 | 540 | 487 | 777 | 836 | 788 | 707 |
| Visits to children under 1 year | 1,579 | 1,628 | 1,910 | 1,470 | 1,729 | 1,815 | 2,315 | 1,695 |
| Average number of visits per baby visited | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 2.4 |
| Visit to children from 1-5 years | 3,613 | 3,990 | 5,724 | 4,774 | 4,387 | 4,685 | 6,449 | 4,937 |
In partial explanation of the decrease in the total number of visits
in 1941, it should be noted that during the national Diphtheria
Immunisation Campaign, the Health Visitors were called upon to attend
a number of sessions at schools and clinics (215 in 1941), which reduced
the time during which they could pay home visits. After 1941 the
Health Visitors were relieved of this work by the Civil Defence volunteers,
several of whom have continued to give yeoman service since the
disbandment of that organisation.
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