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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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Consultation Centres : Summary of Work for the Year 1938. Infant Consultations
| 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 | 50 | 51 | 50 | 51 | 50 | 52 | 51 | 48 | 454 |
| Number of Attendances | 3,313 | 2,780 | 3,753 | 2,563 | 5,034 | 3,613 | 3,346 | 2,921 | 3,532 | 30,855 |
| Average Attendance | 65.0 | 55.6 | 73.6 | 51.3 | 98.7 | 72.3 | 64.3 | 57.3 | 73.6 | 67.9 |
| Seen by Doctor | 1,432 | 1,350 | 1,331 | 1,018 | 1,360 | 977 | 1,208 | 969 | 1,085 | 10,730 |
| Average number seen by Doctor at each Session | 28.1 | 27.0 | 26.1 | 20.4 | 26.7 | 19.5 | 23.2 | 19.0 | 22.6 | 23.6 |
The total number of children attending the consultations was 3,496, 1295 being under 1 year
of age and 2,201 between the ages of 1 and 5 years.
Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinics.
| Harrow Road. *(2 sessions weekly) | Macroom Road. (1 session weekly) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Sessions | 89 | 51 | |
| Number of Attendances | 1181 | 510 | |
| Number of Expectant or Recently Confined Mothers who Attended | 515 | 193 | |
| Average Attendance per Session | 13.3 | 10.0 | |
| Number of Cases Referred by Midwives in Private Practice | |||
*from 5th April, 1938
Having regard to the increased number of women attending the ante- and post-natal maternity
sessions it became necessary to hold an additional session from the 5th April, 1938, making three
per week. It was also decided to engage a Senior Visiting Medical Officer for these consultations,
and Mr. A. L. Gunn, F.R.C.S., was appointed and commenced duty on the 27th July.
Mr. Gunn's report is as follows:—
Since the ante-natal work was transferred to the new centre in Harrow Road, Dr. Fenwick
and I have re-organised the ante-natal supervision with certain definite guiding principles in
mind.
The early recognition and quick investigation of abnormalities is of primary importance.
Obstetric abnormalities which cannot be corrected at once are referred without delay to the
hospital which will have charge of the woman's confinement.
The dental department has been freely used. Other departments of the Council's health
department have assisted in the care of women suffering from concurrent conditions.
Nutrition has demanded a good deal of attention and we have concentrated on this aspect
of the subject. Malnutrition and anaemia have been very common. In the many cases in
which we have been able to advise on dietetic matters, and to help by providing nourishment
in necessitous cases, the improvement in the condition of the expectant mother has been remarkable.
This is a valuable method of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, and one for
which the facilities of the Borough Council are particularly suited.
The work of the clinics has increased partly because of the need for adequate ante-natal
care and partly as a result of happy co-operation with the medical staff of Paddington Hospital.
Consultative and Physical Treatment Centre.
Number of Sessions 103
Number of Attendances 4,054
Number of Cases 220 (of which 157 were new).
Average Attendance per Session 39.36
Classification of Cases—
Artificial Sunlight only 67
Artificial Sunlight and Massage 78
Massage only 59
Dietetic only 16
Treatments given—
Artificial Sunlight 2,520
Massage 2,387