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
Paddington 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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Dental Treatment can also be obtained for mothers and children from Paddington Centres, at
the local Hospitals, and at the Eastman Dental Clinic, Royal Free Hospital, Gray's Inn Road.
Lectures on Health Topics are provided from time to time.
Co-operation with Personal Service League.—Grants of clothes for cases recommended by Health
Visitors are received at No. 232, Harrow Road, W. 2, for distribution.
Convalescent and Holiday Homes.—Mothers and children are sent to Convalescent and Holiday
Homes on recommendation of Medical Officers at Centres. Financial assistance is given in many cases.
The Vest Fund is maintained by a small Association of Ladies connected with the School, who
knit garments and woollies which are sold at low cost to mothers at the Centres.
The stock of clothing and the financial balance are augmented by gifts from friends, and the money
realised is spent on dentures, convalescence, etc.
Consultation Centres. Summary of Work for the Year 1934.
| Harrow Road. | Third Avenue. | Macroom Road. | St. Mary's Terrace. | Queens- boro' Passage. | Totals | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tues. | Thurs. | Tues. | Fri. | Wed. | Thurs. | Wed. | Fri. | Mon. | ||
| Number of Sessions | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 49 | 45 |
| Number of Attendances | 2349 | 1512 | 3338 | 2680 | 2123 | 2229 | 2265 | 2801 | 2814 | 2211 |
| Average Attendance | 46.0 | 29.6 | 65.4 | 52.5 | 42.4 | 44.5 | 44.4 | 54.9 | 57.4 | 48.9 |
| Seen by Doctor | 1117 | 820 | 1447 | 1042 | 766 | 972 | 805 | 1145 | 1426 | 954 |
| Average number seen by Doctor at each Session | 21.9 | 16.0 | 28.3 | 20.4 | 15.3 | 19.4 | 16.1 | 22.4 | 29.1 | 20.9 |
The total number of children attending the consultations was 2,235, 880 being under 1 year of
age and 1,355 between the ages of 1 and 5 years.
Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinics.
Harrow Road. Macroom Road.
Number of Sessions 48 51
Number of Attendances 586 474
Number of Expectant or Recently Confined Mothers
who Attended 304 214
Average Attendance per Session 12.2 9.3
Number of Cases Referred by Midwives in Private
Practice 15 8
Consultative and Physical Treatment Centre.
Number of Attendances 2,465
Number of Cases 217 (of which 167 were new)
Classification of Cases—
Artificial Sunlight only 59
Artificial Sunlight and Massage 83
Massage only 45
Dietetic only 30
Treatments given—
Artificial Sunlight 1,455
Massage 1,535
"The Consultative Physio-Therapeutic Centre has continued its work with regard to correction
of deformities, overcoming rickets and improving the standard of nutrition amongst the children of
Paddington. The work is continually needed as the standard of nutrition varies considerably in
different areas, while the normal is by no means a fixed one for every child. Active lively individuals
are always likely to look thinner and less well-nourished than those of more placid and lethargic
dispositions. Special attention has been paid during the year to catarrhal cases and the anaemia
that so often goes hand in hand with malnutrition. The response to the iron tonic ration that was
instituted two years ago has been very good. Mothers are gradually beginning to realise the importance
of advice on diet, but details obtained from the doctor are apt to be neglected as being too theoretical,
and, although quite acquiescent to the advice, they often think that the suggestions cannot be carried