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 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICE
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES
The clinic functions for health care of mothers and children have continued, including family planning;
there were also educational sessions for a variety of groups of all ages.
During the year, arrangements were made for some ante-natal clinic sessions to be combined with those
already held in the Council's centres by general practitioner obstetricians.
Creche facilities continued to be in demand, and the number of weekly sessions was increased from
the 1971 level of 13 to 17.
A number of child health clinics with health visitors in attendance continued to be held at general
practitioners' surgeries. While these have affected attendances at the Council clinics, both appear to have
been affected by the falling birth rate.
Details of attendances at various clinics during the year were as follows:-
| Borough Clinics | 1972 | 1971 |
|---|---|---|
| Child Health | 33,768 | 40,652 |
| Toddlers | 2,340 | 2,630 |
| Ante & Post Natal | 1,935 | 2,436 |
| Totals | 36,953 | 45,718 |
| General Practitioners' Surgeries | 5,507 | 6,031 |
| Occasional Creches | 4,669 | 4,366 |
The health visitor's pattern of work is altering with the changes occurring in the age structure and needs of the community. This, of course, leads to changes in statistical information requirements, and in the following tables the details given for 1972 have in some instances no corresponding figures for 1971.
| Cases visited by Health Visitors | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 1971 | |
| Children under 5 | 15,573 | 15,839 |
| Persons aged between 5 & 16 | 2,144 | - (1) |
| Persons aged between 17 & 64 | 5,296 | - (1) |
| Persons aged over 65 | 1,938 | 687 |
| Mentally disordered persons (2) | 205 | 95 |
| Tuberculous households | 12 | 6 |
| Infectious households (other than T.B.) | 256 | 294 |
| Other categories (1) | 1,193 | 3,688 |
Notes:- (1) Other categories in 1971 included persons aged between 5 & 64.
(2) In 1972, mentally disordered persons are also included in the appropriate age
group; for 1971, these are a separate category.
Visits made by Health Visitors
Totals of all effective visits including revisits 62,044 49,349
Totals of all ineffective visits 16,060 15,420
The new work pattern is clearly shown, visits having been made to all age groups, and there has been
a considerable increase in the total number of visits.
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