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

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Marylebone 1945

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

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Classes for remedial exercises, held at Welfare Centres Nos. 1 and 2, were supported by 44 mothers who made a
total of 205 attendances.
Home Visits.—The five whole-time and two part-time health visitors paid domiciliary visits as follow: (a) to expectant
mothers, first visits, 497, total visits, 889; (b) to children under 1 year of age, first visits, 828, total visits, 3,453;
(c) to children between the ages of 1 and 5 years, total visits, 3,117.
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 31st December, 1944, to 29th December, 1945; full cream,
3,356 20 oz. cartons at l/2d. per carton; 53 cartons free: half cream, 331 cartons at l/2d. per carton; 5 cartons
free. Distribution of vitamin preparations was also made as follow: cod liver oil, 4,764 13£ oz. bottles; orange juice,
39,198 6 oz. bottles; vitamin A and D tablets, 1,366 packets, each packet containing 45 tablets.
Day Nurseries.—Four war-time day nurseries (whole-time), all recognised as training centres for student probationers,
continued to function throughout the year. The difficulty of obtaining and retaining sufficient nursing and domestic
staff again constituted the major problem in operating this service. A.T.S. members from a local gun-site gave valuable
voluntary assistance in one of the nurseries during the early part of the year, four of the girls being available for duty
each day. Nursery hours, which throughout the war had been from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., were reduced as from the
1st September, 1945, when the hours fixed were: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.).
In September the Devonshire Street Nursery took part in a B.B.C. programme in which British people greeted their
American opposite numbers. The nurses and children broadcast to an old-established nursery in New York City, and
a cable subseauentlv received stated that reception had been excellent and the feature greatly appreciated.

TABLE 4.—War-time Day Nurseries.

No.Nursery.Date of Opening.Number of Places.Average Daily Attendance.
0—2 years.2—5 years.Total.0—2 years.2—5 years.Total.
112-18, Salisbury Street26.1.1942303060203151
2St. Vincent's Creche, 14, Blandford Street*1.9.194215203552025
33, Devonshire Street16.8.194321365792534
486, Carlton Hill1.12.1943242650142842
Totals9011220248104152
*Approved by the Ministry of Health as a grant-aided nursery.

Home Helps.—Great difficulty was again expeiienced in securing women suitable and willing to undertake the duties
of home help or domestic help. During the year a home help was provided in one case and a domestic help in two
cases.
Child Life Protection.—The number of persons on the register who, at the end of the year, were undertaking for
reward the nursing and maintenance of foster children, was five, and the children in their care numbered six. The
Council's health visitors, acting as child protection visitors, made a total of 53 visits of inspection to the homes.
Illegitimate Children.—The Council participated in a scheme to provide increased financial assistance to voluntary
moral welfare organisations in London and contributed at the rate of £318 per annum for the year commencing 1st April,
1945. Provision for illegitimate children was made by the Council in three cases: two were placed in children's homes
and one with a foster mother.
Premature Infants.—The care of premature infants continued to receive special attention. Sixty-four premature
births occurred in the Borough, of which 10 were to St. Marylebone mothers. Premature births to St. Marylebone
mothers occurring in other districts numbered 38.
Dental Treatment.—By arrangement, certain sessions at the Dental Clinic of the London County Council at No. 217,
Lisson Grove, are set aside for the inspection and treatment of mothers and children under the local maternity and
child welfare scheme. Modern dental X-ray apparatus was installed by the Borough Council during the year. Statistics
for 1945: sessions held, 94; new cases—mothers 194, children 35; attendances—mothers 788, children 101; X-ray
examinations, 29; extractions—mothers 346, children 29; patients provided with dentures at cost price, 28;
fillings, 258; other operations, 599.
Child Guidance.—The Child Cuidance Clinic, closed during the war, was re-established in Welfare Centre No. 1 on
the 12th April, 1945. Between that date and the end of the year 15 sessions were held and 27 cases made a total of
57 attendances.
Maternity Cases.—Accommodation for maternity cases was available within the Borough at the Middlesex Hospital,
and also at the Paddington Hospital of the London County Council. The emergency obstetric service of the London
County Council and a panel of local obstetric consultants continued to be available for any doctor in the area needing
assistance in difficulties or complications arising during pregnancy or at or after confinement.
Convalescent Homes.—One expectant mother and five mothers and babies were sent to convalescent homes for
periods varying from ten days to three weeks. As from the 1st April, 1945, the Council undertook the maintenance of
one bed, for the use of pre-school children, at St. Christopher's Nursery Training College and Convalescent Home,
Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells, and five cases were admitted from the Borough during the remainder of the year.