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

Barking 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]

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Table: OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.There was again an increase in the number of cases of ophthalmia neonatorum, notifications being 24, compared with 16 in 1926. 18 of the cases occurred in the practice of midwives, the remainder being attended by medical practitioners.

OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.

There was again an increase in the number of cases of ophthalmia neonatorum, notifications being 24, compared with 16 in 1926. 18 of the cases occurred in the practice of midwives, the remainder being attended by medical practitioners.

Age Group.Cases.Vision unimpaired.Vision impaired .Total Blindness.Deaths.
Treated.
NotifiedAt Home.At Hosptl.
Under 3 weeks2423124---

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The growing appreciation among midwives of the seriousness of
the condition and of the value of early treatment makes for a greater
readiness on their part to call in medical help to the slighter cases of
discharge which previously may have escaped notification altogether.
i
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM REGULATIONS, 1926.
These regulations came into force on October 1st, 1926. Under
them it is no longer the duty of the midwife to notify cases. In
accordance with the rules of the C.M.B. the midwife is under
obligation to call in medical aid for any inflammation of the eyes,
however slight, and the onus is now with the medical man called in
to notify if, in his ophinion, the case is one of opthalmia neonatorum.
For the effective supervision and treatment of such cases, close
co-operation between the Local Supervising Authority and the Local
Sanitary Authority is essential, and suggestions are made in a
circular accompanying the Regulations as to how this co-operation
may best be secured.