Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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SECTION B.—HEALTH SERVICES.
Nursing in the Home. Three voluntary Associations
provide nursing facilities in the District. The Council makes
an annual contribution to the funds of each and arrangements
have been agreed for nursing assistance to be available
for cases referred through the Council's Health Services.
(1) The Merton Parish Nurse Fund employs one nurse
for general nursing. No midwifery nor maternity nursing is
undertaken. The district served is approximately the
ecclesiastical parish of St. Mary's. A total of 179 cases involving
2,645 visits were attended during the year. Of these,
16 were children under five years of age to whom 62 visits
were made.
(2) The St. Helier District Nursing Association employs
one nurse for general nursing. No midwifery nor maternity
nursing is undertaken. Its activities cover the whole of the
Merton and Morden portion of the St. Helier Estate and in
addition that part situated in the Carshalton Urban District
lying to the north of Reigate Avenue.
During the year 155 cases of which 16 were children
under 5 years were nursed.
The total number of visits made was 2,924 of which 140
were in respect of children under 5 years. These figures refer
to this district only.
(3) The Wimbledon District Nursing Association serves
Wimbledon and the western part of this district. Three
nurses, two full-time and one part-time are employed, for
general nursing in Merton, and part-time service by one
midwife is also provided for this district.
The figures relating to cases and visits in Merton and Morden during 1939 are as follows:—
Cases. | Visits. | |
---|---|---|
Children under 5 years | 57 | 701 |
Maternity | 14 | 870 |
Midwifery | 27 | |
Other cases | 409 | 6,412 |
Total | 507 | 7,983 |
Laboratory Facilities. There has been no change in the
laboratory arrangements for this district.
The following examinations were made during the year:—
Examination. | No. performed. | Positive result. |
---|---|---|
Swabs for diphtheria bacilli | 556 | 32 |
Sputum for tubercle bacilli | 128 | 21 |
Blood for Widal test | 4 | — |
Fasces | 9 | 1 |