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
St Pancras 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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66
Provision of Beds for Maternity Cases.
By arrangement with the London County Council eight maternity beds were available
for St. Pancras cases at the University College Hospital.
These beds were filled by cases referred to the hospital by the Borough Council, and
the London County Council paid an agreed sum for their retention.
95 cases were accommodated between 1st January and 4th July, 1948.
Invalid Children's Aid Association.
Under this scheme assistance was rendered towards the cost of convalescence of St. Pancras
children under the age of five years, with a maximum of 70 cases per annum. The financial
arrangements provided for a payment of 75 per cent. of the amount outstanding after allowing
for any payments by parents. During the period ended 4th July, 1948, 20 children were so
assisted at a cost to the Council of £196 1s. 5d.
Home and Domestic Helps.
The Council had in its employ 37 full.time home helps and 17 part.time, and 252 cases
(157 sickness, old age, etc., 95 maternity) were cared for during the six months ended 4th July,
as compared with 158 during the year 1947.
Care of Premature Infants.
Prematurity today is deemed to exist when the birth weight of a baby is 5½ lb. or
less, and is not now reckoned in accordance with the date of birth as compared with the
expected time of confinement.
During the six months ended 4th July, 1948, doctors and nurses notifying births of
children continued to co.operate by informing the Medical Officer of Health of the weight of
children at birth, and those designated as premature were visited frequently by the Council's
Health Visitors, who submitted monthly reports until such time as the infant weighted 8 lb.
The following table gives particulars in respect of the half year:—
| Where born. | Number Born. | Died in 24 hours. | Died between 24 hours and 1 month. | Survived. | Removed to other Boroughs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At home | 2 | – | – | 2 | – |
| In hospital | 87 | 3 | 4 | 69 | 11 |
| Totals | 89 | 3 | 4 | 71 | 11 |
Child Life Protection.
During the course of the half year 15 women notified their intention to accept foster
children, and these notifications were in respect of 25 children under nine years of age receive
during the year, the number at the end of the year being 20. Health Visitors paid 175
supervisory visits in their capacity as Infant Life Protection Visitors.