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
Beddington and Wallington 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Beddington and Wallington]
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Care of Illegitimate Children. The Surrey County Council make an
annual grant to the Sutton and District Girls' Aid Association, whose
visitor follows up cases occurring in the Borough. A grant is also made
to homes for mothers and babies in Surrey where the unmarried mother
can be admitted before the birth of her child, and cared for some months
after birth.
Ladies of the Women's Voluntary Services and the health visitors
continue to co-operate in the alleviation of the lot of these unfortunate
mothers.
Treatment. Minor Ailments. Forty four cases were referred from the
Infant Welfare Centres to Hospital Specialists for investigation and treatment
during the year.
The principal defects were as follows:
Eye conditions 8
Tonsils and adenoids 8
Orthopaedic defects 4
Nævi 5
Circumcisions 5
Hernia 3
Dental. The Grange dental clinic for school children and children below the age of five years, as well as nursing and expectant mothers, continues to perform a very essential service. The accompanying table illustrates the work carried out.
| No. of Cases | Extractions | Fillings | Scaling & Gum Treatment | Provision of Dentures | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full | Partial | |||||
| Expectant and Nursing Mothers | 21 | 13 | 85 | 12 | 5 | |
| Children, 0-5 | 51 | 44 | 196 | - | — | — |
| Totals | 72 | 57 | 281 | 12 | — | 5 |
Orthopaedic. Patients attending infant welfare centres who require
treatment for orthopædic defects are referred by the Clinic Medical
Officer to orthopaedic surgeons at St. Helier or other hospitals. During
1957, 4 cases were referred for treatment.
Physiotherapy. This department continues to do very useful work,
and a high standard of attendance was maintained throughout the year.
In addition to ultra-violet light and infra-red irradiation, massage,
manipulation and corrective treatments are given. Classes for remedial
exercises for children suffering from minor orthopædic and postural
defects were conducted during the year. The Physiotherapist was also
able to arrange classes for pregnant mothers desiring a course of
relaxation exercises.
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