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
Ealing 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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11
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The work of the Health Centres continued normally until the
last week of August. Four of the Health Centres were then adapted
for use as First Aid Posts and the Health Visitors undertook work
in connection with the Posts. - As the organization of the First
Aid Posts was developed the Health Visitors were released from this
work and gradually maternity and child welfare work was resumed.
By the end of the year steps were being taken to restore the full
number of sessions for mothers and children. Only two of the
Health Centres are in use as First Aid Posts and satisfactory
arrangements have been made for maternity and child welfare work
to be carried on in the same building.
Summary of the Visits made by the Health Visitors.
| Visits to children under 12 months:— | (1938) | (1939) |
|---|---|---|
| First visits | 2,434 | 1,860 |
| Return visits | 5,558 | 4,555 |
| Visits to children 1 to 5 years of age | 10,200 | 6,854 |
| Visits to expectant mothers | 1,983 | 1,416 |
| Visits to investigate infant deaths and still-births | 140 | 109 |
| Special visits or investigations | 265 | 252 |
| Visits to cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 37 | 13 |
| Visits to cases of Pemphigus Neonatorum | 5 | — |
| Visits to cases of Measles and Whooping Cough | 672 | 138 |
| Visits to cases of Scarlet Fever on discharge from the Isolation Hospital | 290 | 276 |
| Inspections of Women's Lavatories | 68 | 44 |
| Visits to children under care of foster-mothers | 758 | 705 |
| Other visits | 143 | 119 |
| Total Visits | 22,553 | 16,341 |