Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
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the Borough for use when patients were referred to the Ante-Natal Clinics.
The Clinic Medical Officers' notes regarding the patient are entered on
these forms, which are then returned to the midwives with requests for
the forms to be completed after the confinements are over, giving short
clinical notes of the confinements and after-history of the patients.
There is still much work to be done before we can say that the majority
of mothers realise the importance of medical supervision during pregnancy,
and it is only by visiting and propaganda that this will be accomplished.
Infant Consultations.—The total attendance at all clinics has increased
during the year. Old Ford heads the list with an average of 82.6 per
session. This is much too high, especially when the accommodation
available is taken into consideration. These premises are now the least
satisfactory of all our centres. The absence of a separate weighing room
is a great disadvantage at such a busy clinic, where the attendance is at
times over 100. The shelter for perambulators is also inadequate.
The increased attendances at Manchester Road Clinic show how much
more suitable are these premises compared with the former premises at
Christchurch. They are well appreciated by mothers and staff.
Artificial Light Clinics.—The attendances at the Artificial Light
Clinics during the year numbered 10,128, an increase of 3,678 over last
year's figure. These clinics are very popular with mothers, who go to
a good deal of trouble to bring their children to the clinics when they see
the improved condition of the children.
The average number of exposures per child was approximately 17,
although many of the children only received five or six. The prevalence
of Measles and Whooping Cough during the year mainly account for the
broken attendances.
The increase in the total attendances is in a measure due to the
consideration shown by the Sister-in-Charge, who, when making appointments
for treatment with mothers, realising their home difficulties, makes
arrangements to suit the mothers' convenience.
Dental Clinic.—The Dental Clinic continues to do very useful work.
Mothers are now realising the value of dental hygiene for themselves