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
Dagenham 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]
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comes into the forefront of preventive medicine, so we must see
that the many and varied voluntary and statutory agencies already
set up are brought to the notice of the aged and that their health
is maintained by early diagnosis, adequate nutrition and health
education.
There is much still to be done in the field of mental defect
and it is hoped that the visiting of defectives in their homes will
become part of the work of the health visitors who already do
much in the under-5 age group in referring cases for ascertainment,
in encouraging the parents to co-operate in any suggested training
of the defective, and in helping them to understand their children's
problems.
The work of the clinics goes on and by her attendance at the
clinic and the advice and discussions there, the health visitor can
encourage early medical consultation, vaccination and immunization.
Work of Health Visitors
The following table shows the number of visits paid by the Health Visitors during the year
| (a) To expectant mothers | First visits | 148 |
| Total visits | 513 | |
| First visits | 1,689 | |
| Total visits | 5,758 | |
| (c) To children between the ages of 1 and 5 years | Total visits | 11,030 |
| (d) Ineffective visits | Total visits | 3,736 |
| (e) Other visits | Total visits | 1,061 |
| Grand Total | 22,098 | |