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
Islington 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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2l
[1928
The "Sunlight" lamp was used in respect of 89 children who made 924 attendances.
The conditions calling for its use were in connection with Debility, Malnutrition,
Rickets, Impetigo, Chronic bronchitis, Urticaria, Chronic Coryza, Adenitis,
etc.
Ward.—During the year as regards numbers there were fewer admissions to
the Ward because of the longer average stay of each patient. The Medical Officer
reports that the cases are very largely those of defects of feeding and of malnutrition
and that these require prolonged treatment if they are to receive any permanent
benefit. Number of patients treated, 97; Transferred to a "Home," 1; Transferred
to a hospital, 1; Death, 1; Discharged (inclusive of Transfers), 89; Remaining, 7.
The average length of stay was 21¼ days.
"Health Week" and Educational Propaganda. Through the courtesy of the
Milk Publicity Council a special lecturer spoke to the mothers on Tuesdays for a
period. Lectures on "Hygiene in the Home" were also given through the Health
and Cleanliness Council; these were in addition to the special "Health" lectures
on the 2nd October.
The various Departments of the Four Voluntary Centres, with the attendances for 1928 may be summarised thus:—
| North. | South. | East. | West. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Ante-Natal Clinics and Ailing Mothers Clinics. Number held weekly | 31 | 1½* | 1† | 2 | |
| Number of attendances | 1,827 | 786 | 555 | 389§ | 3,557 |
| 2. Consultations for Children up to 6 Years of Age. Number held weekly | 10 | 10 | 10** | 7 | 37 |
| Number of attendances | 20,971 | 18,835 | 13,794 | 19,159 | 72,759 |
| 3. Home Visiting. Number of visits made | 14,183 | 12,377 | 9,440 | 8,853 | 44,853 |
| 4. Dental Clinics. Number attending | 492 | 172 | 76 | 37 | 777 |
| Number of attendances or arrangements made for attendances | 1,351 | 312 | 155 | 1,818 | |
| 5. Morning Callers. Number of attendances | 1,286 | 815 | 87 | 972 | 3,160 |
| 6. Massage Clinics. Number of cases given massage or sent for massage | 75 | (& Sunlight treatment) 132 | 86 | 16 | 309 |
| 7. Wards. Number of beds | 18 | 8 | 26 | ||
| Number of patients received | 149 | — | — | 97 | 246 |
| 8. Number of Children on Books | 1,834 | 1,555 | 1,135 | 1,112 | 5,636 |
*2 Clinics one week, one following week = 1½ weekly.
**Including 2 Observation Clinics.
†One Extra Ante-Natal Clinic on 2nd Thursday in month to be added.
‡Extra Ante-Natal Clinics have had to be held on account of numerous attendances.
§ Attendances of Expectant Mothers only.