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
City of Westminster 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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visitors attached to those centres visit the homes for the purpose of
supplementing the instructions of the medical officers, and of advising as
to how those instructions should be carried out. Home visiting is of prime
importance in maternity and child welfare, and its place cannot be taken
by teaching groups of mothers at the centre. In the home the visitor,
by seeing the actual conditions, can appreciate any difficulties with which
the mother may be contending, and much can be cleared up in the course
of a quiet talk. Visits of inquiry are necessary in cases of ophthalmia,
measles, and other infectious diseases. The following table shows the
number of visits paid in connection with the four centres:—
Table VII.
| —- | Pimlico. | Bess-borough Street. | Rochester Row. | Greek Street. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-natal— First visits | 235 | 174 | 244 | 147 | 800 |
| Other visits Children under 1 year of age- | 357 | 147 | 426 | 239 | 1,169 |
| First visits | 417 | 265 | 327 | 277 | 1,286 |
| Other visits Children over 1 and under 5 years— | 1,174 | 840 | 1,124 | 862 | 4,000 |
| Visits | 2,058 | 1,911 | 1,923 | 1,298 | 7,190 |
| Death enquiries, still births, &c. | 57 | 32 | 25 | 19 | 133 |
| Infectious diseases | 410 | 220 | 138 | 4 | 772 |
| 4,708 | 3,589 | 4,207 | 2,846 | 15,350 |
The Council's midwife paid 779 visits before, and 234 after, confinements
which are not included in the Table VII. This also applies to the Greek
Street centre of the Westminster Health Society, where the midwives paid
103 visits before confinement and 185 to infants under 1 year of age.
At the North Centre, 60, Greek Street, 15 classes were held by Dr.
Lewin for Nasal Hygiene, especially in connection with cases of adenoids
and faulty nasal conditions.
Infant Clinics.—These are held at the following centres at the times
mentioned:—
Council's Centres—
1, Pimlico Road—2 p.m. Wednesday. 2 p.m. Friday.
15, Bessborough Street—2 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday
(combined with ante-natal clinic).
Westminster Health Society—
60, Greek Street—2.45 p.m. Thursday.
100, Rochester Row—2 p.m. Tuesday. 2 p.m. Friday.
It will be noted from the following table of attendances that in spite
of considerably fewer births in the City there are a greater number of new
infants being brought to the centres. The average attendance per session
has increased, as also have the total attendances. The comparative totals
since 1921 are also shown :—