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
Hampstead 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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33
The following is the report for the year 1933 of the Medical
Officer of the Council's Ante-natal Clinics, Miss Mary Kidd, M.B.,
B.S. (Lond.) :—
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to submit the following report on the working of the Borough Council's Ante-natal Clinics during the year 1933:—
| Pond Street 1933. | Clinic. 1932. | Kilburn 1933. | Clinic. 1932. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New patients | 114 | 113 | 290 | 282 |
| Attendances of old patients | 473 | 493 | 1123 | 1193 |
| Number of sessions held | 51 | 51 | 100 | 100 |
| Average attendance per session | 11.5 | 12 | 14 | 15 |
| Number of patients referred to Dental Clinic | 37 | 55 | 135 | 123 |
| Number of patients sent to Convalescent Homes | 3 | 1 | 6 | 8 |
The past year has been one of quiet routine work at the Antenatal
Clinics and the attendances of the expectant mothers have been
well-maintained.
Looking back on the past sixteen years since the Clinics were
started, one notices a marked increase in the readiness of the mothers
to take advantage of the advice and health-teaching bestowed upon
them, not only by myself but also by the Health Visitors. Another
point of interest that emerges from such a survey is, that the expectant
mother, now-a-days, tends to begin her attendances at the Clinic much
earlier in pregnancy than formerly as she seems to feel (and rightly)
that the sooner she seeks advice on her condition, the better.
Unfortunately, there is another aspect of the picture which is less
encouraging, but I felt it would be misleading if I did not speak of it.
And that is, that the physical condition of those expectant mothers
whose husbands are unemployed (or who have had long spells of
unemployment alternating with short periods of work) is far from
satisfactory. Many such women, indeed, are definitely "below par"
and under-nourished when they first come under my care. This is
not only a matter of clinical observation but is confirmed by further