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 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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54
Health Visiting.—The importance of visiting children between the
ages of one and five years was emphasised by the Minister of Health in
circular 1054, issued in 1929. Other points to which he drew the attention
of local authorities were extension of day nurseries and further facilities
for the medical examination of children of this age period. The ultimate
object of these proposals was to ensure that children reaching school age
should be free from those defects and diseases which retard and interfere
with the benefits of education as well as entailing expense to the Education
Authorities who have to provide treatment.
The following table shows the number of visits paid in connection with the four centres:—
| Ebury Bridge. | Bess-borough Street. | Marshall Street. | Marsham Street. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-natal— | |||||
| First visits | 244 | 226 | 159 | 153 | 782 |
| Other visits | 632 | 442 | 297 | 314 | 1,685 |
| Children under 1 year of age— | |||||
| First visits | 357 | 323 | 404 | 229 | 1,313 |
| Other visits | 1,749 | 1,674 | 1,327 | 1,046 | 5,796 |
| Children over 1 and under 5 years- | |||||
| Visits | 2,661 | 3,411 | 2,698 | 2,355 | 11,125 |
| Death enquiries, still-births, | 33 | 41 | 36 | 19 | 129 |
| Infectious diseases | 256 | 189 | 248 | 81 | 774 |
The staff of health visitors remains as in 1930 and 1931, and from
the above table it will be seen that the visiting of children between the
ages of 1 to 5 years is receiving adequate attention.
Children Act, 1908.—Until 1st April, 1933, the duties imposed under
Part I of this Act relating to foster mothers and boarded-out children
were carried out by the London County Council, after this date the
administration will be transferred to the City Council.
Barlow's Gift.—The income from this trust, amounting to £33, was
by resolution of the Barlow's Gift Committee divided equally between
Maternity and Child Welfare and the Tuberculosis Handicrafts Committee.
The money has been most usefully expended in providing such necessaries
as cannot be bought by money raised from the rates, e.g., rubber bandages
and materials for handicrafts. The vouchers are duly presented for the
purposes of audit.