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
Fulham 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]
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32
The Maternity and Child Welfare Department maintains touch with the National
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, whose co-operation is as ready as it is
valuable.
NOTIFICATIONS OF BIRTH.
The Birth Rate for 1935 was slightly higher than in the previous year (13.8 compared
with 13.7). Under the Notification of Births Acts, 1,960 births were notified to the Department
during the year, of which 59 were stillborn. The number of births notified by midwives
was 1,733, and by doctors and parents 227. The stillbirths equalled 3.01 per cent. of the
notified births.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE CENTRES.
There are three Maternity and Child Welfare Centres in the Borough, viz., 90/92,
Greyhound Road; 170, Wandsworth Bridge Road; and at Melmoth Hall, Eustace Road, all
of which are attended by the Medical Officers in this Department. The times of the sessions
are detailed on page 28.
The total attendances at the clinics increased by 3,147, and the first attendances of
children under one year of age represented 54.44% of the notified live births.
The following table shows the attendances at the Infant Clinics during the year 1935:-
| Clinic. | Number of Clinics held. | First attendance of babies | Total Attendances | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in years | 0-1 | 1-5 | 0-1 | 1-5 | |
| 92, Greyhound Road | 200 | 492 | 79 | 6814 | 3617 |
| 170, Wandsworth Bridge Road | 148 | 353 | 48 | 4667 | 2381 |
| Melmoth Hall, Eustace Road | 98 | 209 | 46 | 2890 | 2196 |
| TOTALS | 440 | 1054 | 173 | 14371 | 8194 |
Hitherto the issue of dried milk as ordered by the Medical Officers has been made at
the Town Hall. An experiment, however, to save time for the mothers was commenced in
March at the Greyhound Road Centre.
Arrangements were made for the issue of dried milk to be made at this Centre while
the medical sessions were actually in progress on Wednesdays and Thursdays, on each of
which days a morning and afternoon medical session is held. The scheme is working well,
and is proving a boon to the mothers. Arrangements are now being considered for such
issue to be made at every medical session at all the Centres.
In November, 1934, the scale of income under which free milk was supplied was made
more generous, and in January, 1935, the granting of milk at half cost-price was reintroduced.
As all milk is given strictly under medical supervision, these measures brought to the
clinics an increased number of children who might otherwise not have been provided with the
medical and nursing services given by the Borough Council.