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 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Havering]
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Cervical Cytology
This service continued a gradual expansion in 1972, when
the service was available in all of the Council's clinics The
number of smears taken during 1972 was 2,793 of which 5 cases
required referral for hospital investigation but in a further 688
cases minor conditions were detected which either required
treatment by their general practitioner or a repeat smear.
1972 continued the National Recall System of women who
were tested when the Scheme first started—approximately 1891
repeat smears were taken
Premature Births
228 premature births were notified during the year which
compares with 207 in the previous year, and represents 6.5%
of the total live births
Havering is well served by two Special Baby Care Units
under the care of Dr Nauth Misir, one at Harold Wood Maternity
Hospital, the other at Rush Green Maternity Hospital.
CHILD HEALTH SERVICES
Details of congenital malformations observed at birth are required to be reported by the midwife on the notice giving the notification of the birth. Particulars of each are forwarded to the Registrar General who has an early warning system to notify Medical Officers of Health of any untoward rise in the number of notifications During 1972 59 babies were reported as suffering from congenital malformations, 84 different conditions being observed as set out in the following table:-
| Diagnostic Group | Number |
|---|---|
| 0 Central Nervous System | 33 |
| 1 Eye and Ear | 4 |
| 2 Alimentary System | 8 |
| 3 Heart and Circulatory System | 2 |
| 4 Respiratory System | 1 |
| 5 Urino-genital System | 6 |
| 6 Limbs | 22 |
| 7 Other Musculoskeletal | 2 |
| 8 Other Systems | 6 |
| 9 Other Malformations | – |