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
Battersea 1923
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1923
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Day Sanatorium or Open-Air School.
The open-air school at Springwell House, Clapham Common
North Side, receives a large number of children daily, the larger
proportion (about 60 per cent.) being Battersea children. The
school is housed in a large converted mansion, with a fine garden at
the rear, where the children receive instruction, except in bad
weather, in the open air. The school is under the administrative
control of the London County Council, but with the consent of the
Borough Council, the services of the Tuberculosis Officer (Dr. Macdonald)
and one of the Dispensary nurses are being utilised by the
County Council in medically supervising the children, the former to
the extent of one half-day a week, and the latter as to three-fourths
of her time, for which the County Council contribute part of these
officers' salaries. The Institution is doing very useful work, the
education of the children being carried on under the most favourable
conditions for their recovery, and almost continuously in the open
air: suitable nourishing meals being provided at the school.
Details of the Medical supervision of the children during 1923 is summarised as follows::—
| Details of the Medical supervision of the children during 1923 is summarised as follows::— | |
| Number on Roll 31st December, 1923 | 143 |
| „ admitted during 1923 | 48 |
| „ discharged during 1923 | 56 |
| Reasons for discharge:— | |
| (a) Fit for elementary school | 16 |
| (b) Fit for work | 31 |
| (c) Transferred to Hospital or Sanatorium | 3 |
| (d) Removed from district | 5 |
| (e) Transferred to Special School | — |
| (J) Discharged for other reasons | 1 (invalid) |
| Gain or loss in weight of children who have been in the School for more than twelve months:— | |
| (a) Children who gained weight | 103 |
| (b) Average gain in kilos. | 3.1 |
| (c) Children who lost weight or whose weight was stationary | 1 |
| (d) Average loss in kilos. | 1 |
After-Care Committee.*
The Care Committee was appointed by the Council on the
taking over of the Dispensary in May, 1921, and consists of members
of the Council and of representatives of other bodies engaged in
health and social work in the Borough. The composition and
functions of the Committee are those outlined in the Circular letter
issued by the Local Government Board dated 29th April, 1915.
* The Constitution of the Committee will be found on reference to page 2.