Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
35
DENTAL CLINIC.
One dental session is held weekly at Greyhound Road, and Mr. Dodd and Dr. Carswell,
the anæsthetist, carry on a most valuable part of the medical services. Slowly but surely
the clinic mothers are realising the importance of healthy mouths, and our attendance figures
are mounting. During the year 259 new cases attended, making 738 total attendances. 186
extractions and 23 fillings were carried out, 27 dentures being also supplied.
HOME NURSING.
Home nursing is provided by the Borough Council for persons requiring such attention
and unable to pay for it privately. There are three groups of cases included in the Council's
scheme—certain illnesses in children under five years of age; certain illnesses in expectant
and nursing mothers; and certain infectious diseases.
A fee of 1s. per patient is paid for each attendance on a case, in the first two groups
by the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, and in the third group by the Public Health
Committee.
I have again to place on record the loyal co-operation and help we receive from Miss
Watson, Superintendent of the District Nurses.
MATERNITY HOME.
The Fulham Borough Council Maternity Home is situated at 706, Fulham Road,
S.W.G. It has ten beds for patients, with an isolation ward containing one bed.
The Home is intended primarily to help mothers whose home circumstances render
confinement at home for certain reasons unsuitable. It meets the needs of women who are
unable to arrange for proper supervision during their first confinement, and it is equally an
advantage that mothers who have large families should have rest during this trying period.
It is unfortunate that more of such mothers do not avail themselves of the opportunities
offered for institutional treatment.
It seems to be still not quite understood that the Maternity Home is not capable of
being used as a Hospital, and that there are no ante-natal beds.
For some reason or other the services of Home Helps have not been used in Fulham
to the extent that they might be. They can be arranged for through this Department.
The Staff from the Maternity Home attend at the ante-natal clinic twice weekly and
thus get practical experience in ante-natal work.
Trained nurses are prepared for the certificate of the Central Midwives Board, as the
Maternity Home is recognised as a training school by this Authority.
The following is a record of the work done at the Maternity Home during 1935 :—
| Cases admitted | 214 |
| Average duration of stay (days) | 14 |
| Number of cases notified as Puerperal Sepsis | - |
| do. do. Ophthalmia Neonatorum | - |
| Number of cases of Infectious Disease | - |
| Number of infants not entirely breast-fed while in the institution | - |
| Number of maternal deaths | - |
| Number of foetal deaths (stillborn or within ten days of birth) | 3 |