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
Orpington 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Orpington]
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2. Services Rendered by Hospital Boards.
There are two hospitals situated in the district ; Farnborough
Hospital with 802 beds, which is within the Bromley Group, and
Orpington Hospital with 983 beds, which is within the Orpington
and Sevenoaks Group.
3. Services Rendered by the County Council.
Health Visiting.
The County Council employ ten Health Visitors within the
district. Their main function is to give domiciliary advice on
the care of mother and child, to attend welfare centres and
school clinics and school medical inspections. They follow up
and advise on immunisation against diphtheria and vaccination
against smallpox.
Midwifery (Domiciliary).
Three full-time midwives, and five others who combine midwifery
and home nursing, are responsible for this area.
Home Nursing Service.
In addition to the nurses mentioned above, there are seven
Home Nurses, plus one part-time nurse. Their services are provided
on Medical Practitioners' certification and the service is
free.
Domestic Help Service.
The following is a summary of the cases assisted in Orpington during the year :—
| Types of cases | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | A pi. | May | June | July | Aug. | Spt. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lying-in | 11 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 101 |
| Expectant Mothers. | |||||||||||||
| Ambulant | 12 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 29 |
| Bedridden | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 13 |
| Aged Ambulant | 25 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 60 |
| Bedridden | 10 | 3 | 4 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 30 |
| Tuberculosis. | |||||||||||||
| Ambulant | 7 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 17 |
| Bedridden | 4 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 10 |
| Other cases. | |||||||||||||
| Ambulant | 54 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 223 |
| Bedridden | 22 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 93 |
| Totals | 148 | 37 | 54 | 47 | 38 | 32 | 44 | 28 | 27 | 35 | 39 | 47 | 576 |
Number of Part-time Domestic Helpers 112
Number of Full-time Domestic Helpers 3
115