Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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Somers Town Centre, Chamberlain House, Ossulston Street.
In addition to the Consultations provided by the Borough Council, the Health Visiting
Staff had 2,040 interviews with parents and the Voluntary Committee arranged for knitting,
&c., classes, at which 404 attendances were recorded, and 31 mothers and 37 children were
sent away on holiday for a period of two weeks.
North St. Pancras School for Mothers, Queen's Crescent.
During the year 14 voluntary consultations for older children were held by Dr. J.
Finch Haines, at which 392 attendances were recorded.
Health Talks and Cookery Demonstrations were held, at which 385 attendances were
made.
Interviews with parents by the Superintendent, other than at classes or clinics,
numbered 2,270.
54 children attending this Centre were referred for Artificial Light treatment or for
Massage to the Almeric Paget Institute, a Voluntary Society whose premises are at 14,
Rochford Street, which is near the Centre. 24 mothers and 35 children were referred to
the Council's Dental Clinic for treatment.
The Voluntary Committee of this Centre maintains a Holiday Home at St. Margaret's,
Heme Bay (4 beds, 2 babies' cots), to which mothers and children attending the Centre are
sent for a much needed holiday. During the year holidays were provided for 16 mothers
and 30 children. 10 mothers and 10 children were also sent to other Convalescent Homes.
Grafton Road Centre.
12 voluntary consultations were held during the year for children from 2 to 5 years
of age, the Medical Officer being Dr. Richard II. Wace.
9 mothers and 11 children were sent away for convalescence.
21 mothers and 41 children were referred for treatment to the Council's Dental Clinic,
and 18 children attended the Artificial Light Clinic.
Camden Town Centre.
In addition to the routine work, 17 mothers and 15 children were sent away on holiday,
either to the country or seaside, for a period of two weeks.
In consequence of the transfer of the Council's Superintendent to another Centre, the
members of the Voluntary Committee tendered their resignation. This was accepted by the
Council, and the formation of a new Committee was left in the hands of the Chairman and
Deputy Chairman of the Public Health Committee and the Medical Officer of Health.
The new Committee was formed and are carrying on the work with great success and
efficiency, probably due, to some extent, to the fact that the Centre receives their undivided
attention.
The members of the late Committee also acted as the Committee of the Maternity
Nursing Association, and, in consequence, their interest was necessarily divided.
Advantage was taken of the opportunity afforded by the change of Committee to
terminate the practice of staffing the Ante-Natal Clinic by Nurses of the Maternity Nursing
Association, to the practical exclusion of the Council's staff. The present method is more
satisfactory, and is uniform with the practice adopted at other Centres.