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102
Report to Medical Officer of Health of
Miss A. E. Hall, Chief Health Visitor.
Public Health Offices,
Bow Road, E. 3.
January, 1923.
Sir,
I beg to present the fifteenth Annual Report of the work of the
Maternity and Child Welfare Department.
Resignations.—There were two resignations during the year—Dr.
Lane (the Medieal Officer of the Bow and Poplar Clinics) on removal
from London ; Miss Burtt, Health Visitor for No. 4 District, on her
marriage. The vacancies were filled by the appointments of Dr. Ward
and Miss Little wood.
Removal.—-On the expiration of the lease of the premises in Shirbutt
Street, the North Poplar Clinic was removed to 134, High Street, Poplar
—everyone was delighted with the change.
New Scales were provided at the Island Clinics, and are much
appreciated. They are most comfortable, both for the babies and the
workers.
Infant Clinics.—Nine sessions weekly are held—all show an increased
attendance. High Street, Poplar, heads the list with an average
attendance of 44.8 per session. Allanmouth Road at the bottom with
an average attendance of 25.8 per session. This, however, is an increase
of 5 per session over the attendance last year. The figures for Bow
(37.2) really do not give a fair idea of the attendance. Friday morning
is an awkward time for mothers, and the comparatively poor attendance
at this session adversely affects the average. The attendance of
Expectant Mothers is not reckoned on the average.
Dental Clinic.—The attendance has been very unsatisfactory,
falling from an average of 7.6 in 1921 to 4.3 during the year under review,
An enquiry into probable causes was held at the end of the year, and if
the suggestions made are carried out, I feel sure that this branch of the
work will, in time, be as successful as the others—the need for it is as
great.
Infantile Mortality.—The rate for the Borough—79 per 1,000 births
—exactly half what it was eleven years ago—is certainly a matter for
congratulation, especially when one considers that the rate per 1,000
Still-births and Deaths before visit is practically unchanged. I am
still of the opinion that an improved midwifery service would do more
to decrease these rates than the provision of Ante-natal Clinics.