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
Hammersmith 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead, Metropolitan Borough of]
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The following table gives a record of the work of the Health Visitors in 1927:—
| Number of first visits to expectant mothers | 134 | |
|---|---|---|
| „ re-visits „ „ | 80 | |
| „ infants under one year visited for the first time | 796 | |
| „ re-visits to infants under one year | 2501 | |
| „ visits to children over one year | 2960 | |
| „ visits re deaths of infants under two years of age | 94 | |
| „ „ still-births | 24 | |
| „ „ maternal deaths | 5 | |
| „ ,, infectious disease | 181 | |
| „ „ verminous conditions | 2 | |
| „ attendances at Borough Council's Pre-Maternity Clinics | 146 | |
| „ „ „ „ Dental Clinic | 59 | |
| „ „ Council of Social Welfare Infant Welfare Centres | 278 | |
| ,, complaints investigated | 9 | |
| ,, applicants for assistance visited | 238 | |
| ,, unclassified visits | 63 | |
| Total | 7570 | |
In Hampstead, all notifications of births are carefully scrutinised,
and those thought suitable for visiting are given to the Health Visitors,
who call at the homes at some time between a fortnight and a month
after the birth has occurred. Approximately three-quarters of the total
births are thus passed to the Health Visitors, the other quarter being
considered outside the scope of our facilities for sundry reasons,
chiefly economic.
Those selected for visiting are entered on lists for the Health
Visitors, who call again at least twice before the expiration of the first
four months, thus making three visits within the first four months to
each baby suitable for visiting. Another visit is paid as soon as the child
is 6 months old, and another at, or just after, 12 months. From thence
onwards, the question of "following up" is left largely to the discretion
of the Health Visitors.
Careful consideration has been given to the border-line cases, those
cases where it is not easy to decide whether or not a visit is desirable.
These consist chiefly of the type of those formerly found upon a first