Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1919
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of the staff of children attending the Consultations
who have been found to be suffering from dental
defects, or enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Babies
requiring circumcision are also operated on there by
the Assistant Medical Officer of Health, with the assistance
of the anaesthetist attached to the Treatment
Centre. In all 30 children were operated on at the
Treatment Centre.
7. Treatment in Hospital of Children requiring special
nursing and feeding.—
Fulham Babies Hospital.—This institution opened
in March, 1916, at 706, Fulham Road, was moved to
more commodious premises at 23, Broomhouse Road,
in July, 1919. The Committee of management were
enabled to do this through the generosity of Mr. Leslie,
who purchased the freehold, and of Mrs. Power, who
defrayed the entire cost of the necessary alterations
amounting to upwards of £4,000. The hospital will
now accommodate 20 patients and is admirably
equipped in all respects. The Council contribute
£1,000 a year towards its maintenance and nominate
two members to serve on the Committee of Management,
of which the Medical Officer of Health is Chairman.
The Assistant Medical Officer of Health acts as
Medical Officer, and in this way there is intimate cooperation
between the Hospital and the Welfare Centre,
as babies seen at the Consultations who require special
nursing and feeding, unobtainable at home, can be at
once admitted.
Between January 1st and July, 1919, 32 children were
treated in the old hospital, of whom four died, and from
August 1st, when the new hospital was opened for
patients, to the end of the year, 57 cases were admitted.
It had been decided to reserve the hospital during
August and September entirely for cases of diarrhoea,
as experience had shown that there is great risk of the
spread of infection, when cases of epidemic diarrhoea
are treated in the same ward as the premature or marasmic
children of the type generally sent as patients.