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
Erith 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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The natal sessions which are held on one half-day each week at hte Hainault and Bedonwell Clinics., continue to function and as will be seen from the following table, the attendance figures are most gratifying.
| Ante-natal patients seen by Doctor | 1939 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. | Feb. | Mr. | Apr. | Mas | June | July | Aug | Sep. | Oct. | Nov | Dec. | Total | ||
| Erith | 69 | 101 | 89 | 98 | 113 | 100 | 84 | 98 | 44 | 35 | 59 | 65 | 955] | 1755 |
| Bedonvvell | 99 | 86 | 51 | 79 | 84 | 96 | 55 | 65 | 23 | 38 | 66 | 58 | 800 | |
B(5)c. Abnormal Cases.
Accommodation for abnormal maternity cases, in need of
hospital treatment is provided for by an arrangement between
this Council and the City of London Maternity Hospital. Seven
cases were admitted under this arrangement during the year.
I he conditions for which they were admitted were as follows :
| Condition | No. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Toxaemia | 3 | ||
| Trial Labour | 2 | ||
| Extended Breeeh | 1 | ||
| Ante partum haemorrhage | 1 | ||
| Total | 7 |
B(6). Infant Life Protection.
The Health Visitors are responsible for the 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 foster mothers on register at end of year 16
Number of children on register at 31st December, 1939 20
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.