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
Bethnal Green 1927
Report on the health of the Borough of Bethnal Green during the year 1927
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29
NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS ACTS,
1907 AND 1915.
During the year, 1,782 live births were registered
in the Borough; and of these, 1,738 were notified to
the Medical Officer of Health. There were also 29
stillbirths notified. Of the 1,767 living and stillbirths
notified, 1,062 were notified by midwives, 417 by
maternity assistants of the London Hospital, 226 by
medical practitioners, and 62 by parents and others.
Through the courtesy of neighbouring Medical
Officers of Health I also received copies of notifications
of births of Bethnal Green babies which took place
outside the Borough, information-as to 571 live babies
and 20 stillbirths being received in this way.
WORK OF HEALTH VISITORS.
The growth of the outdoor work of the Health Visitors is shown in the following summary of their visits for the past 5 years:—
| 1923. | 1924. | 1925. | 1926. | 1927. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Births (first visits) | 2,918 | 2,650 | 2,645 | 2,520 | 2,375 |
| Births (re-visits) | 16,628 | 20,507 | 23,640 | 23,147 | 27,495 |
| Visits to mothers | 1,577 | 1,435 | 1,443 | 1,730 | 1,308 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 149 | 223 | 190 | 238 | 180 |
| Puerperal Fever and Pyrexia | 48 | 21 | 46 | 47 | 59 |
| Measles | 1,110 | 1,029 | 699 | 1,552 | 190 |
| Special Matters | 450 | 242 | 436 | 656 | 684 |
| Futile Visits | 2,377 | 2,847 | 2,290 | 2,448 | 2,646 |
| Milk Grant Enquiries | 1,141 | 828 | 1,069 | 1,138 | 1,383 |
| Total visits paid | 26,398 | 29,782 | 32,458 | 33,476 | 36,320 |
Of the 27,495 re-visits, 11,579 were to children
under 1, and 15,885 to children between 1 and 5, while
there were 31 visits to children between 1 and 5 newly
come into the Borough.