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
Merton and Morden 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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The following information kindly supplied by the Secretary indicates the work of the Hospital Clinics during 1939:—
| Infant Clinic— | From Merton and Morden. | From all Districts. |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Total number of attendances at the Infant Clinic during the year. (1) By children under one year of age | 577 | |
| (2) By children between the ages of one and five years | 3 | |
| (b) Total number of children who first attended at the Clinic during the year, and who on the date of their first attendance were (1) under one year of age | 53 | 81 |
| (2) between the ages of 1 and 5 years | 2 | |
| (c) Total number of children under 5 years of age who attended at the Clinic during the year and who at the end of the year were (1) under one year of age | 52 | 79 |
| (2) over one year of age | 1 | 3 |
Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinic—
| Ante-Natal. | Post-Natal. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merton and Morden. | All Districts. | Merton and Morden. | All Districts. | |
| (a) Total number of attendances at the Clinics during the year | 1,478 | 106 | 157 | |
| (b) Total number of women who attended at the Clinics during the year | 163 | 263 | 97 | 141 |
These figures taken in conjunction with those in respect
of the Council's Clinics show that 90 per cent, of the babies
born in the district and 74 per cent, of the expectant mothers
received skilled medical supervision under clinic arrangements.
Health Visiting. Home visiting during the year was on a
smaller scale than in the year before, due partly to the increased
programme of Clinics and also the fact that the Health Visitors
were temporarily seconded for duties at the First Aid Posts at
the outbreak of the war. 6,075 visits were made to mothers
and children under 5 years, compared with 7,563 in 1938. In
addition, 277 other visits were made for special purposes in
connection with Puerperal Pyrexia, Ophthalmia Neonatorum,
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