London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hampstead 1926
Report for the year 1926 of the Medical Officer of Health
This page requires JavaScript
The following table gives a record of the work of the Health Visitors in 1926:—
| Number of first visits to expectant mothers | 152 |
| „ re-visits „ „ | 119 |
| ,, infants under one year visited for the first time | 784 |
| „ re-visits to infants under one year | 1708 |
| ,, visits to children over one year | 2329 |
| ,, visits re deaths of infants under two years of age | 76 |
| „ ,, still-births | 33 |
| „ „ maternal deaths | 1 |
| „ „ infectious disease | 994 |
| „ „ verminous conditions | 7 |
| ,, attendances at Borough Council's Pre-Maternity Clinics | 149 |
| „ „ „ „ Dental Clinic | 51 |
| „ „ Council of Social Welfare Infant Welfare Centres | 290 |
| ,, complaints investigated | 8 |
| „ applicants for assistance visited | 215 |
| ,, unclassified visits | 62 |
| Total | 6978 |
In Hampstead, all notifications of births are carefully scrutinised,
and those thought suitable for visiting are given to the Health Visitors,
who call at the homes at some time between a fortnight and a month
after the birth, has occurred. Approximately one-half of the total
births are thus passed to the Health Visitors, the other half being considered
outside the scope of our facilities for sundry reasons, chiefly
economic.
As a result of many years' experience it has been found that of
the births thus visited, only about one-half, or 25 per cent, of the total
number are suitable for "following up."
Those in this final percentage arc entered on lists for the Health
Visitors, who call again at least twice before the expiration of the first
four months, thus making three visits within the first four months to
each baby suitable for visiting. Another visit is paid as soon as the child
is 6 months old, and another at, or just after, 12 months. From thence
onwards, the question of "following up" is left largely to the discretion
of the Health Visitors.