London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Paddington 1945

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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Dental Treatment : 32 nursing or expectant mothers received treatment under arrangements made with Mr.
F. H. Brinkley Tofts, L.D.S., R.C.S. (Eng.).
Maternity Beds : 106 women were delivered in the beds reserved at St. Mary's Hospital. No case of puerperal
infection was notified. There were three stillbirths and three deaths within 10 days of birth.
Emergency Obstetric Service : This service is provided by the London County Council at a charge of £5 5s. Od. per
patient. The facilities were utilised in one instance during the year.
Home Helps : Six full-time maternity Home Helps are employed, supplemented by Casual Helps selected from
the Council's panel. During the year assistance was provided in 90 cases, 82 of which were attended by Full-time
Helps and 8 by Casual Helps.
Provision is also made for carrying out the domestic washing of expectant or recently confined mothers, but use
was not made of these facilities during the year.
Convalescence : One mother was sent for convalescence, part of the cost being met by the Council. Five children
were sent to Homes under the arrangement made with the Invalid Children's Aid Association.
Child Life Protection : 294 visits and inspections were made. At the close of the year the Register contained
the names of 23 persons, who had charge of 30 children. No legal proceedings were necessary. The Council's scheme
of guaranteed payments to foster mothers was utilised in three instances.
Daily Guardians : 28 persons were registered for the care of 13 children. At the end of the year the Register
contained the names of 25 guardians who had charge of 13 children.
Perambulator Scheme : Advantage continued to be taken of these facilities, the number of perambulators available
for hire being 76 (including 3 twin perambulators).
Contraceptive Advice, etc. : The Council have an arrangement with the North Kensington Women's Welfare
Centre for the giving of contraceptive advice to married women who are already in attendance at a Maternity & Child
Welfare Centre of the Council and whose health would be adversely affected by another pregnancy, the cost (10s. Od.)
being borne by the Council in appropriate cases. Five such women were referred for advice during the year, four
of whom attended.
Extra Nourishment : The National Milk Scheme is supplemented, where necessary on medical grounds, by grants
under the Council's scheme. 63 applications were dealt with during the year, all of which were granted.
Care of Illegitimate Children : The duties of Welfare Worker in this connection are carried out by the Superintendent
Health Visitor. . .
During the year 10 women were admitted to Homes prior to confinement (nine to the Main Memorial Home,
Hampstead, and one to St. Faith's Home, Loughton). After the birth, which in each case took place in hospital,
mother and child were re-admitted to the Home pending satisfactory arrangements for the infant's care. Financial
assistance was given in all cases.
Following the decision of the Council to establish a Hostel, negotiations were in progress at the end of the year
for the acquisition of suitable premises for the purpose.
Premature Infants : The number of Paddington babies whose weight at birth was 5½ lbs. or less was 128, of whom
23 were born at home and 105 in institutions.
Of those born at home 17 were nursed entirely at home, 3 died during the first 24 hours and 16 survived at the end
of one month.
Of those born in institutions 5 died during the first twenty-four hours and 79 survived at the end of one month.
The special equipment provided in accordance with Ministry of Health Circular 20/44 was utilised in 5 instances,
and in no case was it necessary to obtain paediatric advice.
Notification is received of the discharge of all infants born in institutions in the Borough.