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 London 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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Maternal and Child Care
| Clinic Attendance of Children under 5 years | 1967 | 1968 |
|---|---|---|
| Attendances | 553 | 547 |
| Medical Examinations | 266 | 205 |
| Hearing Tests | 4 | 17 |
| Phenylketonuria Tests | 20 | 31 |
Child Health Clinic
The clinic continues to be held in St. Bartholomew's Hospital Outpatients Department. A
slight yearly decrease in clinic attendances has occurred since 1965 and investigations show a
corresponding fall in the resident child population of the City.
The routine vaccination and immunisation schedule has now been extended to include measles
vaccination. Almost all parents have accepted this additional protection of their children's health.
An analysis has shown that more than a quarter of the families had moved out of the City
before smallpox vaccination was due.
Dr. A. White Franklin, Senior Paediatrician, St. Bartholomew's Hospital and Paediatric
Consultant to the Corporation of London, reports as follows:—
"The Child Health Clinic meets twice weekly at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Routine medical
examinations are performed periodically, tests are made for early signs of deafness and the
Phenistix test for phenylketonuria is still used pending arrangements for the Guthrie test to
replace it.
Most families are keen to have the routine immunisations, although several suggested changes
of programme during recent times have made this somewhat confusing for the staff. Smallpox
vaccination, now advised in the second year of life is less easy to control. Attendance, related
presumably to what the Mother gets out of it, is less in the second year when she 'has overcome
her need for support."
Vaccinations and Immunisations at Child Health Clinic
| 1967 | 1968 | |
|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria/Tetanus/Whooping Cough | 28 | 5 |
| Poliomyelitis | 16 | 14 |
| Smallpox | 12 | 6 |
| Measles | — | 61 |
At Risk Register
| 1967 | 1968 | |
|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 years of age | 4 | 5 |
The names of fourteen children have been placed on the register since April, 1965, nine of
whom have been transferred to other local health authority areas. Of the five children on the
register at the end of the year one child has been referred for heart surgery, one child is receiving
treatment for a mild degree of deafness and the other three children are making normal progress.
Day Nurseries
| 1967 | 1968 | |
|---|---|---|
| Kingsway Creche | ||
| City children in attendance at end of year | 2 | 1 |
| City children on waiting list | 1 | 1 |
| Other Nurseries | ||
| City children in attendance at end of year | — | 3 |
| City children on waiting list | — | 2 |
There has been a steady increase in the demand for day nursery placements, on both medical
and social grounds.
Registered Child Minders
1967 1968
Applications for registration NIL 1
One application has been received but after consultation with the City Architect and Planning
Officer it was decided by the applicant not to proceed in the matter.
31