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 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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(1970)
Persons (excluding maternity cases) discharged 117 (229)
from hospitals (other than mental hospitals)
T.B. Households 6 (37)
Households visited on account of other infectious
illnesses 294 (659)
Other cases 3,688 (3,313)
Effective visits 49,349 (51,344)
Ineffective visits 15,420 (14,614)
STUDENT TRAINING
Seven health visitor students were sponsored for training by the Borough and all were successful in
their examinations. Five health visitor students from other boroughs were given practical training in
Islington.
FIRE CASES
The follow-up by health visitors to fire cases continued, involving a great deal of home visiting of the families concerned for advice and health education.
| Fires notified | 30 |
| Fatalities | 3 (10%) |
| Fires involving fatalities | 3 |
| Children involved | 1 |
| Injuries | 6 (20%) |
| Fires involving injuries | 5 |
| Fires involving oil heaters | 10 (33%) |
DOMICILIARY MIDWIFERY
The number of domiciliary deliveries continued to decline, falling to a total of 142, compared with
155 in 1970.
In addition to the 142 home confinements, 46 other patients were booked for domiciliary confinement
but subsequently transferred to hospital for the following reasons:-
Complication of pregnancy 27
Premature labour 1
In labour at term 10
Moved out of area 8
The planned early discharge scheme resulted in 325 assessments of home conditions being made; 98
homes were found to be unsuitable.
475 patients (including unplanned early discharges) were nursed at home following hospital delivery.
35 patients originally booked for home confinements but who were delivered in hospital were
subsequently discharged for home nursing (giving a total of 510 hospital discharges).
The Emergency Obstetric Unit from University College Hospital was called to 3 patients by midwives
on account of retained placentas and in one case post-partum haemorrhage. All were admitted to hospital.
HOME NURSING
Early in May, the home nursing office moved from the quiet Alwyne Road premises overlooking the
New River to the departmental offices in Upper Street. The transfer went smoothly and the administration
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