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
Wimbledon 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
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general provision of health services
for the area.
Laboratory Facilities.
The Corporation employ a part-time bacteriologist for the
examination of pathological specimens.
In addition, the laboratory provided at the Health Centre is
utilised for the examination of pathological specimens from the
Infectious Diseases Hospital. This work is carried out by the
staff of the Public Health Department,
Maternity and child welfare
The total number of visits paid by the Health Visitors during
194 0, amounted to 7,213, the figure for the previous year being
7,179.
Details of the home visits carried out are given below:-
| Number of Infants visited - First visits | 530 | |
| Number of Infants visited - Re-visits | 1,380 | |
| Number of Toddlers visited | 2,023 | |
| Ante-natal - First visits | 330 | |
| Ante-natal - Revisits | 196 | |
| Visits re Infant Deaths | 15 | |
| " " Stillbirths | 15 | |
| " " Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 13 | |
| " " Puerperal Pyrexia | 4 | |
| " " Non-notifiable Infectious Diseases | 1 | |
| " "Milk Applications | 60 | |
| " "Foster Children | 142 | |
| " " Midwives | 7 | |
| Miscellaneous | 322 | |
| Total welfare visits | 5,038 | |
| Visits - School Medical Service | 975 | |
| Tuberculosis - Home Visits | 64 | |
| Visits to Nursing Homes | 24 | |
| Other visits | 125 | |
| Ineffectual visits | 992 | 2.180 |
| Total visits | 7.218 |
The Maternity and Child Welfare Centres remained open throughout
the year. At Pelharn Road Centre two sessions per week were
held. The average attendance at the Tuesday sessions was 59.46
and at the Friday sessions 69.57. At the Cottenham Park Centre the
average weekly attendance was 28.26. The average attendance at
the Wandle Park Centre was 57.24.
Ante-natal Clinic.
The Pelham Road Ante-natal Clinic was held weekly and the
average attendance was 13.46. At the weekly Ante-natal Clinic at
Wandle Park, which was re-started in January, 1940, there was an
average attendance of 6.95.
Midwifery and Maternity Services - Midwives Ace. 1956.
A service of whole-time domiciliary midwives is provided by the
Wimbledon District Nursing and Midwifery Association under an agreement
with the Council.
6.