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

View report page

Marylebone 1945

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

This page requires JavaScript

5
30th June, 1945, when the use of the premises for mortuary purposes was discontinued. On the 1st July, 1945, the
furniture, equipment, etc., were transferred to the Reserve Mortuary in the Chiltern Street School playground, where
7 bodies (male) were received during the remainder of the year. No post-mortem examinations were carried out at
either premises.
Crematorium.—Two hundred and six certificates authorising cremation at the St. Maivlebone Crematorium, Finchley,
were issued—166 by the Medical Referee (Dr. H. A. Bulman) and 40 by the Deputy Medical Referee (Dr. M. MacGregor).
SECTION B.—GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES.
Staff.— Owing to the illness of the Medical Officer of Health of Paddington, the duties of that office were, at the request
of the Ministry of Health, undertaken by the Medical Officer of Health of St. Marylebone from May until October.
In June, Dr. Murdoch MacGregor, Assistant Medical Officer of Health and Tuberculosis Officer, was called to the Bar.
Owing to the acute shortage of inspectorial staff, two retired sanitary inspectors (Messrs. W. H. Draper and P. H. Hill)
continued their appointments in a temporary capacity throughout 1945. During the second half of the year four
members of the staff (Messrs. M. Kelly, J. W. Chanell, D. H. Drewell and R. G. Turner) returned to duty on demobilisation
from His Majesty's Forces after approximately six years' service in each case. Miss K. M. M. Kelleher, a dispensary
clerk, resigned on the 24th November, 1945, to take lip an appointment with a commercial firm.
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 1945, visits were paid to cases
(number shown within brackets) as follow: maternity, 51 (4); pneumonia, 85 (7); tuberculosis, 20 (1); puerperal
pyrexia, 14 (1); ophthalmia neonatorum, 24 (1); measles and German measles, 74 (12); chicken pox, 7 (1); other
ailments, 33 (7).
Youth Centre.—Taking advantage of their powers under section 4 (4) of the Physical Training and Recreation Act,
1937, the Council agreed to contribute a sum not exceeding £1,000 towards the initial expenditure involved in establishing
a Youth Centre in Paddington Street, and to consider at a later date the granting of financial assistance in the
maintenance of the Centre.
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, child guidance, 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 scheme.
Ministry of Health Investigation.—On the 6th September, 1945, Ministry of Health inspectors conducted an
investigation into the arrangements for maternity and child welfare in the Borough. This included a scrutiny of
statistics, record-keeping systems and office procedure generally, a survey of the clinic and other facilities available,
inspection of buildings and equipment, and visits to clinics in session at the welfare centres.
Refresher Courses for Health Visitors.—As recommended in the Second Report of the Nurses Salaries Committee
(Ministry of Health) arrangements were made to grant health visitors special paid leave to attend refresher courses
and to pay their fees and travelling expenses. The first course to which a health visitor was sent was held in London
during the fortnight commencing 31st December, 1945.
Student Health Visitors.—A student health visitor from the National Health Society, a training body recognised by
the Ministry of Health, was accepted every three months to gain practical experience of a health visitor's duties in the
Council's welfare centres, etc.
Visitors to Centres and Nurseries.—Parties of A.T.S. members from the London District Transit Camp were
afforded facilities for seeing the Council's maternity and child welfare scheme at work. Explanatory talks were given
by members of the staff and visits were paid to the welfare centres and day nurseries. Numerous other visitors included
Princess Safiveh Firouz of Persia.

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. 1110149592661,7691444,3982,1432055642511,279
(317)(79)(287)(47)(23)(54)(56)(72)
Maternity and Child Welfare Centre No. 2100210392291,361904,2652,267857422351,027
(229)(53)(281)(58)(16)(82)(35)(74)
The MiddlesexHospital202150--3,7944892,2781,587----
(410)(269)(147)(14)
*359*46*1,132*717
*(41)*(14)*(65)*(10)
*St. Marylebone residents attending the Middlesex Hospital.