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
Havering 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Havering]
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CHILD HEALTH SERVICES
Congenital Malformations
Both domiciliary and hospital midwives are required to
report congenital malformations observed at birth on the notice
giving notification of the birth. During the year 114 such
malformations were reported and these related to 94 children.
An analysis of the malformations is given in the table below.
The 94 infants reported as suffering from congenital malformations
is approximately 2 4 per cent. of the total notified births. This
is an increase of 0 5 per cent. over 1968, when 76 infants were
reported, but is less than that for 1967, when the figure was 106.
The Registrar General has an early warning scheme to notify
Medical Officers of Health of any untoward rise in the number of
these notifications and the present number of notifications is
within normal limits.
| Malformation Diagnostic Group | No. Reported |
|---|---|
| 0 Central Nervous System | 21 |
| 1 Eye, Ear | 5 |
| 2 Alimentary System | 10 |
| 3 Heart and Great Vessels | 5 |
| 4 Respiratory System | - |
| 5 Uro-genital System | 10 |
| 6 Limbs | 35 |
| 7 Other Skeletal | 6 |
| 8 Other Systems | 15 |
| 9 Other Malformations | 7 |
| TOTAL | 114 |
Phenylketonuria
This is a rare metabolic disease which can cause mental
handicap. During 1969 the Guthrie test, an improved screening
test using blood obtained by heel prick, was introduced to
replace the previous Phenestix urine test. This Borough had the
benefit of having already commenced Guthrie screening in
conjunction with the Maternity and Pathology Departments at
Rush Green Hospital so that the staff were experienced in the
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