London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
This page requires JavaScript
44
(ii) The type, size and specification of particular items which should normally
be supplied where more than one type or size are available.
The Committee held four meetings during the year and dealt first with the equipment
for the Woodberry Down Day Nursery.
CARE OF MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Administration
During 1949 the Council's divisional health organisation settled down to the
task of maintaining, re-organising and improving the personal health services.
Elected and co-opted members of the nine divisional health committees, to which
the Council delegated the day to day administration of these services, regularly visited
the establishments in their areas where services are* provided under the National
Health Service Acts. Divisional medical officers and other administrative staff (who
are responsible for the co-ordination of the personal health services in the divisional
areas) have been faced with a variety of problems which have been further complicated
by staff shortages, but the experience gained since the appointed day has
enabled the difficulties to be faced with increasing confidence.
Expansion of Services
The provision of new maternity and child welfare centres is dealt with on p. 40.
The Council assumed responsibility for the administration of maternity and child
welfare services for military families in the Woolwich Barracks area and by permission
of the military authorities provided in premises owned by the War Office similar
services for civilian families. This caused some reduction in the pressure on other
centres in Woolwich.
The following table shows the number of attendances at the various types of
sessions (excluding dental) which were held in the centres during 1948 (approximate
figures only available) and 1949:—
| Type of session | Attendances | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 (approx. figures) | 1949 | |||
| First | Total | First | Total | |
| Infant welfare — Under 1 year | 47,600 | 689,200 | 48,489 | 683,089 |
| Over 1 year | 7,580 | 285,800 | 6,641 | 282,202 |
| Special toddlers' | — | 21,500 | — | 35,500 |
| Ante-natal | 33,950 | 194,250 | 29,917 | 184,018 |
| Post-natal | 4,780 | 9,190 | 5,839 | 7,486 |
| Breast feeding | 1,700 | 4,250 | 1,559 | 2,851 |
| Educational and Advisory | — | 17,100 | — | 23,688 |
| Light and massage | 6,400 | 95,400 | 6,440 | 108,545 |
First attendances under one year of age at infant welfare centres amounted to
approximately 84 per cent, of all infants born during 1949, compared with 81 per
cent, in 1948. Total attendances were well maintained. During the first 8 or 9 months
when the mother is anxious about the progress of her infant, attendances for weighing,
medical advice and mothercraft guidance are frequent, averaging 12, but with
the normal progress of the child attendances fall off rapidly. All mothers are encouraged
to bring children of 1 to 5 years of age to the infant welfare clinics or to special
toddlers' clinics. About one-fifth of the children who attend are referred for treatment,
an indication of the need for this service and for the mothers to avail