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
Southwark 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICE
Maternity and Child Welfare
Each of the Council's nineteen Health Service Centres provided some or all of
the following services throughout the year:
Ante natal, post natal, child health, prophylaxis, creche, health education,
dental care of expectant and nursing mothers and children under 5 years of
age.
Similar facilities were also provided at two centres run by voluntary committees
with grant aid from the Council.
Mothercraft classes were conducted by health visitors at some centres, in which
instruction was provided in home-making, budgeting, simple cookery and so on.
Health visitors also provided health education talks, gave advice on feeding difficulties
and the general management of children.
All health visitors keep in touch with general practitioners in their area and there
is also close co-operation with the staff of Social Services Departments and many
voluntary organisations working within the Borough.
On 1 June 1971, a new clinic was opened at Whaddon House, Albrighton Road,
S.E.22 as a sub-centre of May ward House. Services provided are two child health
clinics, a mothers club and a family planning clinic.
Details of clinic attendances for the year are as follows:
| Child Health Sessions. | |
| Total number of sessions | 2,665 |
| First attendances of children born in 1971 | 3,238 |
| Total attendances (all ages) | 57,746 |
| Toddlers Sessions | |
| Total number of sessions | 111 |
| Total attendances | 679 |