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

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Erith 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]

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The conditions for which they were admitted were as follows :

City of London Maternity HospitalQueen ( harlottcs Annexe
Toxæmia2
Trial Labour1
Extended Breech1_
Cardiac Insufficiency3
Pyrexia2
Total72

B(6). Infant Life Protection.
The Health Visitors are responsible for the general execution
of Infant Life Protection work. As a general rule they
undertake routine visiting in their own districts.
Cases in which medical examinations are required, or when
doubt arises, are submitted to the Medical Officer of Health.
Information with regard to foster children is obtained from the
following sources ::—
1. By Health Visitors in the course of Routine Visits.
2. By scrutiny of advertisements in the local newspapers,
etc., and explanatory leaflets are available for the guidance of
foster mothers upon application to the Public Health Department.
Number of faster mothers on register at end of year ... 22
Number of children on register at 31st December, 1937 25
During the year frequent visits were paid to foster children,
and in no case was it found necessary to take legal action against
any foster parent.
B(7). Midwives.
The administration of the Midwives Acts is carried out by
the Kent County Council which is the Local Supervising Authority.
Under the new Midwives Act the County Council
employ and supervise midwives working in this area.
B(8). Maternity and Nursing Homes.
At present there are two registered Nursing Homes in the
district. No applications for registration were received during
the year.
B(9). NURSING IN THE HOME.
B(9)a. General.
Three voluntary Nursing Associations provide nurses for
work in the district. These are not subsidized by the Local
Authority, but are supported by weekly contributions by
Members of the Associations, and subscriptions from others.