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
Hammersmith 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
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The above eight children are all in the,care of hospitals, and their names added to the
Borough's Register of Handicapped Children.
Observation and Handicap Register.
Babies are considered to be at risk of developing handicaps if they were adversely
affected during pregnancy, labour, or the lying-in period, (puerperium). The names of such children
are entered in the Observation Register, which is scrutinised at regular intervals by a
medical officer so that their progress and development can be kept under review. Should any
child develop an obvious handicap then that child's name is transferred to the Handicap Register.
The purpose of these Registers is to ensure that a handicapped child receives appropriate care,
treatment, training, and education.
Observation Register.
939 cases were notified, of whom 3 had been transferred to the Handicap Register at
31st December. 11 cases notified in 1964 were transferred to the Handicap Register in 1965.
Handicap Register.
The table below is an analysis of notifications in 1965, and relates to children born in that year. 48 cases were placed on the Register, of whom 3 had been transferred from the Observation Register, and 8 had been notified through the scheme for reporting congenital malformations:
| Mongol | 3 |
| Microcephaly | 1 |
| Mental Retardation (physically normal) | 2 |
| Brain damage | 3 |
| Hydrocephalus | 1 |
| Spina Bifida | 1 |
| Congenital Disease of the Heart | 16 |
| Talipes | 2 |
| Congenital Dislocation of Hip | 2 |
| Left Forearm Absent | 1 |
| Fingers Absent | 1 |
| Cleft Palate | 4 |
| Congenital Biliary Stenosis | 1 (died) |
| Hirschsprungs Disease (Colostomy) | 1 |
| Anal Atresia (Colostomy) | 2 |
| Fibrocystic Disease of Pancreas | 1 |
| Recurring Bronchitis (Lobectomy for Congenital Emphysema) | 1 |
| Sickle Cell Anaemia | 2 |
| Deaf (both supplied with hearing aids) | 2 |
| Retinoblastoma | 1 |
| Total | 48 |
(32)