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
Camden 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camden]
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SERVICES AT MATERNITY AND
CHILD WELFARE CENTRES
Statistics relating to sessions and persons attending are as follows:-
| 1966 | 1965 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of sessions held | 807 | 922 |
| Number of individual women attending | ||
| (a) antenatal | 2,593 | 3.171 |
| (b) post-natal | 113 | 278 |
Three antenatal sessions, at Queen's Crescent, Solent and Somers Town M.& C.W. Centres,
were discontinued during the year. This was due to the falling birth rate and also to the increase
in hospital bookings and attendant antenatal care at hospital antenatal sessions.
| 1966 | 1965 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of women attending during year | 345 | 542 |
| Total attendances during year | 1,039 | 1,378 |
| Number of sessions held | 2,268 | 2,113 | ||
| Number of individual children attending:- | ||||
| (a) children born in 1966 (1965) | 2,776 | 8,066 | 3,009 | 8,522 |
| (b) children born in 1965 (1964) | 2,467 | 2,759 | ||
| (c) children born 1961-1964 (1960-1963) | 2,823 | 2,754 | ||
It will be noted that, although the number of individual children attending clinic sessions
fell in 1966, as was to be expected with the steadily falling birth rate, the number of child welfare
sessions increased from 2,113 in 1965 to 2,268 in 1966. This follows the introduction of developmental
screening examinations of all children for physical, mental or social handicaps.
Two additional weekly child welfare sessions were started - at Barnes House and West
End Lane M. & C.W. Centres - and the numbers of toddlers'sessions at Hampstead Wells and University
College Hospital M. & C.W. Centres were increased from one a month to one a fortnight at each. In
addition, a weekly toddlers'session was started at Solent M. & C.W. Centre.
English Language classes for immigrant mothers are now held on two afternoons each week
at the Kentish Town M. & C.W.Centre by a teacher provided by the I.L.E.A. Arrangements have been
made for the care of children during these sessions in the creche at the centre.
Since July general practitioners from a group practice hold a weekly 'well-baby' clinic for
their patients in Daleham Gardens M. & C.W. Centre. The Council's health visitor assists at this
session.
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