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 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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and 114 were under the care of a hospital outside the district. This
gives us a figure of 72% attendance at the Post-Natal Clinic.
INFANT WELFARE
ATTENDANCES AT INFANT WELFARE CLINICS— 1955
Number of children born in 1955 who attended 858
Total number of children who attended 2,738
Total attendances 27,390
Live births in 1955 numbered 980. Taking into account the fact
that 67 babies were born in the last two weeks of 1955, and their
mothers could scarcely have had the opportunity of bringing them
along to a clinic in that year, approximately 94% of all children born
to Barking mothers were seen at our Infant Welfare Clinics.
Distribution of Welfare Foods
The following table shows the welfare foods distributed during the year:—
| National Dried Milk | 37,607 packets |
| Cod Liver Oil | 8,796 bottles |
| Vitamin Tablets (A & D) | 3,868 packets |
| Orange Juice | 70,660 bottles |
DAY NURSERIES
The two remaining day nurseries, viz Eastbury (80 places) and Gale Street (50 places) functioned throughout the year and the table below shows the combined attendances at these nurseries:—
| No. on Register | Average daily attendances | |
|---|---|---|
| January | 71 | 45.4 |
| February | 66 | 47.8 |
| March | 67 | 46.8 |
| April | 71 | 55.4 |
| May | 77 | 58.5 |
| June | 68 | 56.8 |
| July | 69 | 48.6 |
| August | 71 | 48.8 |
| September | 72 | 57.0 |
| October | 85 | 68.2 |
| November | 86 | 66.9 |
| December | 80 | 61.8 |
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