London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Marylebone 1944

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]

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Crematorium.—One hundred and eighty-two certificates authorising cremation at the St. Marylebone Crematorium,
Finchley, were issued—143 by the Medical Referee (Dr. H. A. Bulman) and 39 by the Deputy Medical Referee (Dr.
M. MacGregor).
SECTION B.—GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES.
Staff.—Owing to continued shortage of inspectorial staff, Mr. P. H. Hill, Sanitary Inspector and Outdoor Superintendent,
who retired on the 8th April, 1944, after 40 years in the local government service (35 years with St. Marylebone
Borough Council) continued in his appointment in a temporary capacity. Miss C. Walsh was appointed as a Health
Visitor on the 1st February, 1944, in succession to Miss Chapman, resigned. The Council adopted the recommendations
of the Second Report of the Nurses Salaries Committee (the Rushcliffe Committee) relative to the salaries and service
conditions of health visitors and tuberculosis visitors, present officers being given the option of continuing on their
existing terms of service. The recommendations of the Rushcliffe Committee affecting state registered nurses employed
at war-time day nurseries, together with revised salary scales and service conditions for other nursery nursing
personnel issued subsequently by the Minister of Health, were also brought into operation.
Laboratory Facilities.—Sir Lionel Whitby, C.V.O., M.C., is the Council's Bacteriologist, but during his absence
on military duties, Dr. C. J. C. Britton, Assistant Pathologist, Middlesex Hospital, has acted in that capacity. The
work is carried out in the Bland Sutton Institute of Pathology at the Middlesex Hospital.
Mr. Thomas McLachlan, A.C.G.F.C., F.R.I.C., whose laboratory is situated at No. 4, Hanway Place, W.l, is the
Public Analyst for the Borough.
Home Nursing.—The Paddington and St. Marylebone District Nursing Association continued to provide adequate
nursing services in the home under an arrangement made with the Council. During 1944, visits were paid to cases
(number shown within brackets) as follow: Maternity, 807 (43); pneumonia, 226 (14); tuberculosis, 121 (4);
puerperal pyrexia, 6 (1); ophthalmia neonatorum, 5 (1); whooping cough, 8 (1); influenza, 110 (8); other ailments,
152 (13).
Maternity and Child Welfare.—The Council have two maternity and child welfare centres: No. 1 in the Town Hall
Extension comprising ante- and post-natal, infant welfare, artificial sunlight, massage, and diphtheria immunisation
clinics; No. 2 at No. 217, Lisson Grove with provision for ante- and post-natal, infant welfare, artificial sunlight,
massage, and dental clinics. In addition, ante- and post-natal and infant welfare clinics held at the Middlesex Hospital
form part of the Council's maternity and child welfare scheme. A normal service was provided throughout the year
and there was a considerable increase in attendances.

TABLE 3.—Work of the Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics.

CentreClinic Sessions heldAttendances (figures in brackets indicate new cases).
MaternityInfantLightMassageMaternity ClinicsInfant ClinicsLight ClinicMassage Clinic
AntenatalPostnatalUnder 1 year1—5 yearsUnder 1 year1—5 yearsUnder 1 year1—5 years
Maternity and Child Welfare Centre No. 1100150832621,903803,6521,634307654368907
(386)(40)(279)(28)(36)(49)(38)(50)
Maternity and Child Welfare Centre No. 2103201782381,2411243,4961,4032441,208190975
(183)(58)(235)(29)(32)(63)(28)(62)
The MiddlesexHospital213150--3,8924621,7171,156----
(393)(231)(132)(14)
*326*29*735*422
*(43)*(20)*(61)*(9)

*St. Marylebone residents attending the Middlesex Hospital.
Classes for remedial exercises, held at Welfare Centres Nos. 1 and 2, were supported by 36 mothers who made a
total of 143 attendances.
Home Visits.—The five whole-time and two part-time health visitors paid domiciliary visits as follow: (a) to expectant
mothers, first visits, 440, total visits, 872; (b) to children under 1 year of age, first visits, 694, total visits, 3,827;
(c) to children between the ages of 1 and 5 years, total visits, 3,527. With the appointment of a new health visitor
the opportunity was taken to adjust and re-allocate the seven health visitors' districts in the light of present-day
needs.
Milk and Vitamin Products.—The Food Executive Officer has kindly provided the following information as to dried
milk supplied under the National Scheme during the period 2nd January, 1944, to 30th December, 1944; full cream,
2,016 20 oz. cartons at l/2d. per carton; 256 cartons free: half cream, 184 cartons at l/2d. per carton; 42 cartons
free. Distribution of vitamin preparations was also made as follow: cod liver oil, 3,870 13| oz. bottles; orange juice,
32,259 6 oz. bottles; vitamin A and D tablets, 1,146 packets, each packet containing 45 tablets.
Day Nurseries.—Four war-time day nurseries (whole-time) were functioning in the Borough throughout the year.
All are affiliated to the National Society of Children's Nurseries as training centres for the Nursery Nurses' Diploma.
The difficulty of obtaining and retaining sufficient nursing and domestic staff again constituted the major problem in
operating this service. In accordance with the terms of Ministry of Health Circular 111/44, all nursery nursing personnel
were examined and X-rayed by the Council's Tuberculosis Officer.