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
Enfield 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]
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63
on their birthdays inviting them to attend the Maternity and Child
Welfare Clinics to be medically examined, has been continued
throughout the year.
This scheme commenced in April 1933 and during the nine
months of that year the total number of appointments kept was 1,769.
The scheme has been successful in that the total number of appointments
kept in 1937 had risen to 2,432.
I feel constrained to repeat the remarks I have made in previous
years, that the proportion of children whose appointments are kept
is too low, especially those made for children of between 4 and 5 years
of age.
AURAL TREATMENT.
The scheme whereby children under five years of age and antenatal
and nursing mothers could be referred to the School Aural
Clinic was continued, and during the course of the year 92 children
and 8 mothers were so referred. This compares with 45
children during the previous year.
Of the 92 children and 8 mothers, 45 were found to have
enlarged tonsils and adenoids needing removal.
OPHTHALMIC TREATMENT.
The scheme whereby mothers and children attending the Centres
who are in need of ophthalmic treatment could be referred to the
School Ophthalmic Surgeon. was continued throughout the vear.
From the following figures it will be seen to what extent such services have been utilised.
| Mothers | Children | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of individual cases seen | 45 | 64 | 109 |
| Number of attendances made | 52 | 110 | 162 |
| Number of glasses prescribed | 37 | 17 | 54 |
| Number not requiring glasses | 4 | 15 | 19 |
| Number of cases referred for conditions other than refractions | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Number referred to Hospital | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Number referred to Hospital for meibomian cyst | 1 | 1 | 2 |
BIRTH CONTROL.
Arrangements exist whereby advice on Birth Control is given
to those mothers attending the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare
Centres for whom further pregnancy would be detrimental to health.
This is in accordance with Memorandum 153 M. and CW. and