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INFANTILE DEATHS. There were 75 deaths of infants under the age of
One year the causes being as follows:
Whooping Cough 4; Bronchitis 3; Pneumonia 11; Diarrhoea 11;
Other digestive diseases 2; Premature birth 15; Congenital
malformations etc. 16; other violent causes 8; all other causes 5.
The Infant Mortality Rate was 43 per 1,000 live births.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES.
Nursing in the Home. The Fulham District Nursing Association has
continued to carry out this work on behalf of the Council and during
the year paid 3,912 visits to 446 cases.
Ultra Violet Light Clinic. This Clinic was open throughout the year
and 13,042 attendances were made, and in addition 370 massage, 965
radiant heat and 504 infra-red treatments were given.
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres. The four Centres at Parson's
Green, Greyhound Road, Wandsworth Bridge Road and Burne Jones House
were open throughout the year, the number of weekly sessions at 31st
December being for antenatal 13; postnatal 2; infant 14. The
attendances of children under one year of age totalled 16,695 and
of children aged one to five years 6,261. The number of attendances
at the antenatal clinics was 10,395.
Home Visiting. The total number of visits paid by the Health
Visitors was 22,945.
Infant Life Protection. At the end of the year there were 44
children in the care of 33 foster-mothers.
Dental Clinic. Attendances at this clinic which is open for at
least one session per week, extra sessions/arranged according to the
need, totalled 2,488.
Maternity Home. During the year 322 women were admitted for labour
and 59 for antenatal treatment. There were no maternal deaths and
only one infant death, due to prematurity. At the request of the
Ministry of Health the Home was closed at the end of August and the
staff and equipment transferred to Rotherham for the opening of an
emergency home. The arrangement was cancelled in a few weeks and
the Home re-opened on Ist October.
Additional Maternity Accommodation. Under the L.C.C. scheme four
beds were allotted to this Borough in Queen Charlotte's Hospital
from July and by the end of the year 34 women had been admitted.
Babies' Hospital. Prior to its compulsory closing (see Preface)
28 babies had been admitted. There was one death.
Day Nurseries. At the end of the year there were six nurseries open
in the Borough, the Munster Nursery of the "hutted" type with
accommodation for 72 children having been opened in July and the staff
and children from Eridge House transferred there. The latter Nursery
was temporarily closed owing to the distance between the Nursery and
the Air Raid Shelter. Between them the six nurseries provided
accommodation for 315 children. The construction of another nursery
for 72 children was nearing completion when the building sustained
damage from enemy action and eventually the site was handed over to
the Ministry of Works.
Supply of sheets for expectant mothers. The arrangements outlined in
Ministry of Health Circular 154/44 were adopted and by the end of
the year 67 dockets had been issued through the Maternity and Child
Welfare Centres.