London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Greenwich 1950

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough.

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134
year a new Welfare Centre at Chevening Road was opened and a
Housing Inspector was appointed in September. A conference
between the Medical Officer of Health and local Medical Practitioners
concerning the establishment of a Rheumatism Clinic to function
two or three sessions per week, eventually proved abortive.
Toward the end of 1932 a survey of the Council's Public Health
Services was made by Inspectors of the Ministry of Health. Whilst
approving the standard of the services provided, the Minister stated
that in addition to making provision for a Welfare Centre to serve
the Charlton area, the Council should take into consideration the
appointment of a Food Inspector and a full-time Junior Assistant
M. & C. W. Medical Officer.
Early in 1033 the latter two appointments were duly made and
tenders were invited for the erection of a Welfare Centre in the
Charlton district, whilst in September the Minister approved the
Council's regulations concerning conditions to be observed in connection
with underground and basement rooms. During the same
year tho Council's Maternity Home was officially recognised as a
Training Institute for Pupil Midwives and in this respect 80 Shooters
Hill Road was purchased to provide an extension of the Home which
then became necessary. Duties of the L.C.C. under the Children
Acts, 1908 and 1932, concerning supervision of foster-mothers etc.,
were transferred during this period to the Council and arrangements
were made with the Roan School Authorities for their pupils to obtain
Artificial Sunlight treatment at the Council's Welfare Centres.
It was fitting that Dr. E. G. Annis should retire at a time when
the foundations of efficient' personal health services ' were well and
truly laid. He was succeeded in his post as Medical Officer of Health
by Dr. M. Macdonald who had been Tuberculosis Officer since 1920.
The extension to the Maternity Home was opened in 1934, as
was the new Sanitary Convenience at Creek Road, and it was during
this year that the Board of Education asked for the co-operation of
the Medical Officer in approving the source and quality of pasteurised
milk to be supplied at reduced cost to schools in the area. The
first " toddlers " Clinic was also introduced during this period.
The year 1935 was a landmark in Greenwich Public Health—
two new Welfare Centres were opened, one at Charlton Lane in
January and one at Creek Road in June—the Maternity Home was
renovated and electricity installed—a Birth Control Clinic commenced
in Woolwich Road—a Foot Clinic was established affording
chiropody facilities at 1/- per treatment and a scheme was devised
to enable necessitous diabetic people to obtain regular supplies of
insulin.