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
Kensington and Chelsea 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington & Chelsea Borough]
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3
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICES
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
There were 2220 notified births, 289 fewer than in 1971 and of these 2195 or 98.8
were institutional confinements.
| Details of attendances at Health Centre clinics are as follows: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ante-natal and post-natal clinics: | ||
| Total number of sessions | 314 | (356) |
| Total attendances | 2,032 | (2,751) |
| Number of women attending during year: | ||
| Ante-natal | 592 | (652) |
| Post-natal | 29 | (34) |
| Child health clinics: | ||
| Total number of sessions (infant welfare and toddlers) | 1,289 | (1,348) |
| Total attendances | 17,602 | (20,254) |
| Number of children attending during year: | ||
| Born in current year | 1,628 | (1,744) |
| Born in preceding five years | 2,664 | (2,789) |
| Total attendances at special toddlers clinics | 1,066 | (1,683) |
During 1972, the total number of children under 5 years of age who attended clinics
was 4,292 compared with 4,533 in 1971, a decrease to be expected in view of the steadily
falling birthrate.
The above figures refer only to children in attendance at the Council's health
centres, but there are many who attend child health sessions held in surgery premises by
their own general medical practitioners and the Council's health visitors. During 1972, 365
(411) such sessions were held and 3,845 (4,802) attendances were made by children under 5
years of age.
Occasional Creches
The number of weekly occasional creche sessions provided at health centres and at
which children can be cared for while their mothers attend hospitals or clinics or do their
shopping, etc., remained at 36.
The total number of sessions held during the year was 1,699 and total attendances
19,484 compared with 1,731 and 22,333 respectively in 1971.
Handicapped Children and Children "At Risk"
The Council's Observation and Handicapped Register of children under 5 years of
age with known handicaps or "at risk" of developing a handicapping condition is compiled
from several sources and all cases are reviewed at regular intervals. The total number of
children on the register was 723.
The following is a summary of the 103 handicapped children included in the above
figure on the register classifed under major handicaps:
Talipes and other orthopaedic defects 18
Congenital Heart Disease and Cardiac Murmurs 14
Mental Retardation 13
Epilepsy 8
Spina Bifida, Meningocele and Hydrocephalus 6