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 1926
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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The attendances by those mothers at the clinics held by Dr. Vernon are detailed below:— Table II.—Ante-natal Clinics.
| Centre. | Sessions. | First Attendance. | Subsequent Attendances. | Total. | No. of Individuals. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pimlico Road | 51 | 84 | 71 | 155 | 118 |
| Bessborough Street | 51 | 99 | 80 | 179 | 118 |
Ante-natal clinics are also held at Charing Cross, St. George's, Westminster
and Middlesex Hospitals for mothers who have made arrangements
for their confinements with these hospitals.
Mothercraft.—Classes in mothercraft are held at the various centres,
and health talks have been given each week throughout the year in connection
with those classes.
Table III.—Mothercraft Classes,
| 1926. | Pimlieo Road. | Bessboro' Street. | 4 months. Frith Street. | Page Street and Rochester Row. | 6 months. Greek Street. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of classes | 46 | 49 | 16 | 86 | 66 | 263 |
| Total attendances | 595 | 866 | 168 | 1,678 | 597 | 3,904 |
| Average attendances | 12.7 | 17.5 | 10.5 | 19.5 | 9.0 | 14.8 |
| Number of expectant mothers | 13 | 49 | 5 | 64 | 9 | 140 |
| Number of attendances by expectant mothers | 62 | 174 | 13 | 437 | 39 | 725 |
| Number of other mothers | 94 | 135 | 40 | 99 | 30 | 398 |
| Number of attendances by other mothers | 533 | 692 | 155 | 1,241 | 558 | 3,179 |
| Attendances of children in nurseries during classes | 222 | 1,030 | 114 | 939 | 231 | 2,536 |
Materials are purchased in quantity, and sold to the mothers at cost
price. The number of garments made at Pimlico Road were 223;
at Bessborough Street, 252; at Frith Street, 172; at Rochester Row and
Page Street, 1,035; and at Greek Street and Mayfair, 393. In addition to
those, many renovations were carried out.
The class at Frith Street was begun in September under the charge of
Mrs. SteSens, and is held every Tuesday afternoon.
Midwifery Services.—The work performed by the Council's midwife is
summarised below, and comparative figures since 1922 are given. Her
area, which was formerly contained in Victoria Ward, now takes in that
part of St. John's Ward bounded on the east by Vauxhall Bridge Road.