Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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held at the Welfare Centre, 10, John Street, and is an integral part of the
Centre, the cases being referred to the Clinic by the Medical Officers of the
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres.
The total number of cases dealt with was 73. Of this number, there were
41 girls and 32 boys, of whom 11 were under 1 year of age. Approximately 53%
of the cases dealt with were "only children," i.e., 39 out of the 73.
| The main complaints dealt with were as follows (this number is greater than 73 as each child is listed under its outstanding symptoms):— | |
| Feeding difficulties | 18 |
| Persistent undesirable habits | 12 |
| Restless, over-active, generally difficult | 11 |
| Sleeping difficulties | 11 |
| Specific fears and phobias | 9 |
| Miserable, jealous, unsociable | 6 |
| Difficult over toilet training | 5 |
| Slow in walking and talking | 4 |
| Tics and blinks | 2 |
| Stammer and stutter | 1 |
| Mother generally anxious | 1 |
| Tempers and defiance | 7 |
In the majority of cases the difficulties arose through faulty handling, so
that the main work lay in helping the individual mother to modify her attitude
and handling, and to build up gradually a better relationship with the child.
Many of the cases were first babies, so that the mothers were inexperienced.
Although in some cases advice and one or two follow-up talks were sufficient,
in others, contact with the families over a considerably longer period was necessary.
At the end of the year the number of cases completed was 41, and the
number outstanding was 32.
Diphtheria Immunization.
The' immunization of children against diphtheria is carried out at the
Council's Welfare Centre, and the Medical Officer attends at the Kingsway
Creche for the same purpose. During the year, 266 children were recorded as
immunized, 201 under 5 years of age, and 65 between the ages of 5 and 15.
Home and Domestic Help Service.
It has been found difficult during the year to obtain the services of women
to undertake this work, although it was possible to give every applicant the
help required. During the year a Social Worker was appointed to deal with
all applications for the above service, as the increased work caused by the putting
into operation of the Domestic Help Service, under Ministry of Health
Circular 110/46, necessitated a full-time worker.
The Council's Home Helps attended 19 cases during the year, and the
Domestic Helps attended 13 cases. In one case of extreme necessity the services
of a Home Help were granted free and in two cases the services of a
Domestic Help were granted free. The majority of the applicants were
required to contribute towards the cost in accordance with the scale recommended
by the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee. At the end
of 1946, 3 Home and Domestic Helps were employed. These services have
been much appreciated, and it has been found that they have met a much felt
need in the Borough.