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 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]
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Phenylketonuria
Phenylketonuria is an uncommon disease in which there is an inborn error of protein
metabolism involving inability of the liver to convert phenylalanine to tyrosine. This
gives rise to brain damage, which manifests itself in due course by the development of
mental deficiency and psychosis. It is important that the condition should be detected
before irreversible brain damage takes place, in order that the child may be given a
special diet having a low phenylalanine content, which will prevent the occurrence of
mental deterioration.
Between the second and sixth week of life the health visitor tests each child's urine
with a strip of paper impregnated with a reagent. So far, only one positive reaction has
been obtained and this proved to be a false positive. Further investigations carried out
at hospital showed that this child was not in fact suffering from phenylketonuria.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
No cases were reported.
Day Nurseries
| Day Nursery | Number of approved places | Average daily attendance | Average No. on register | Total attendances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goresbrook | 50 | 30.4 | 42.7 | 7,702 |
| Chadwell Heath | 54 | 36.8 | 48.1 | 9,311 |
| TOTAL | 104 | 67.2 | 90.8 | 17,013 |
The reasons for admission are set out in the following table:
| Widows | Parents separated | Desertion | Illness of mother | Illness of father | Unmarried mothers | Socioeconomic | Mothers working to supplement income | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goresbrook | 3 | 16 | 1 | 5 | - | 5 | 3 | 25 | 58 |
| Chadwell Heath | 1 | - | - | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 22 | 36 |
| No. of children in all nurseries in 1962 | 4 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 47 | 94 |
The average daily attendances at both nurseries were slightly higher than in 1961,
but even so they continued to be used below their capacity.
Both nurseries are recognised by the Ministry as training centres for nursery nurses
and vacancies for students are quickly filled.
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