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
Penge 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
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HOSPITALS.
There are no changes to report in connection with the
hospital services. Cases admitted to the County Hospital,
Parnborough, Kent, from this district numbered 456 compared
with 549 during the year 1939.
Maternity Home.
During the year, 102 Penge cases were admitted to the new
Penge and Beckenham Joint Maternity Home, Stone Park Avenue,
Beckenham.
The following table gives the numbers of mothers admitted annually for the last five years:
| Year. | Total cases admitted. | Penge Cases. | Beckenham Cases. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | 339 | 98 | 241 |
| 1937 | 319 | 31 | 238 |
| 1938 | 333 | 91 | 242 |
| 1939 | 246 | 48 | 198 |
| 1940 | 405 | 102 | 303 |
The average period spent in the home during the year by each patient was 14 days.
| Health Visiting. | |
| One Health Visitor and a part-time nurse are employed and the following shows the number of visits paid: | |
| First visits to infants under one year | 390 |
| Subsequent visits to infants under one year | 946 |
| Visits to children between the ages of one and five years | 2,476 |
| First visits to expectant mothers | 193 |
| Subsequent visits to expectant mothers | 60 |
| Visits to tuberculosis cases | 221 |
| Visits to foster children | 60 |
| Miscellaneous visits | 98 |
| 4,444 | |
| Child Life Protection. | |
| Number of foster parents on the Register: | |
| (a) at the beginning of the year | 9 |
| (b) at the end of the year | 6 |
| Number of foster children on the Register: | |
| (a) at the beginning of the year | 13 |
| (b) at the end of the year | 6 |
| (c) who died during the year | — |
No legal proceedings were taken.
Dental Treatment.
Where necessary, expectant and nursing mothers and children
are referred to the Dental Surgeon for treatment, and during the
year this was done in 60 cases.
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