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 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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Table II.—Ante-natal Clinics.
| Centre. | Sessions. | First Attendance. | Subsequent Attendances. | Total. | No. of Individuals. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 73 | 90 | 163 | 109 | |
| Bessborough Street | 51 | 106 | 163 | 269 | 153 |
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.
| 1929. | Pimlico Road. | Bessboro Street. | Frith Street. | Page Street. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of classes | 48 | 48 | 47 | 89 | 232 |
| Total attendances | 317 | 1,281 | 677 | 3,153 | 5,428 |
| Average attendances | 6.6 | 26.6 | 14.4 | 35.4 | 23.3 |
| Number of expectant mothers | 5 | 70 | 20 | 51 | 146 |
| Number of attendances by expectant mothers | 16 | 296 | 101 | 524 | 937 |
| Number of other mothers | 39 | 176 | 94 | 123 | 432 |
| Number of attendances by other mothers | 301 | 985 | 576 | 2,629 | 4,491 |
| Attendances of children in nurseries during classes | 134 | 1,076 | 494 | 2,787 | 4,491 |
Materials are purchased in quantity, and sold to the mothers at cost
price. The number of garments made at Pimlico Road were 115;
at Bessborough Street, 532; at Frith Street, 527; and at Page Street,
2,012. In addition to those, many renovations were carried out.
The class at Frith Street, under the charge of Mrs. Steffens, is held
every Tuesday afternoon at 2.30; at Bessborough Street, on Wednesdays
at 2.30, and at Pimlico Road on Mondays at 2.30, under the charge of
Mrs. Colman.
Midwifery Services.—The work performed by the Council's midwife is
summarised below, and comparative figures since 1924 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.