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
Penge 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
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7
Maternity Hospital.
Up to the 5th July, 123 Penge cases were admitted to the Penge and
Beckenham Joint Maternity Hospital, Stone Park Avenue, Beckenham.
The following table gives the number of mothers admitted annually for the last five complete years and up to 5th July, 1948 :-
| Year | Total Cases admitted | Penge Cases | Beckenham Cases | Other Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | 571 | 118 | 453 | — |
| 1944 | 373 | 84 | 277 | 12 |
| 1945 | 561 | 142 | 419 | — |
| 1946 | 882 | 241 | 641 | — |
| 1947 | 982 | 280 | 702 | — |
| 1948 | 460 | 123 | 337 | — |
The average period spent in the Hospital by each patient was ten days.
Maternity cases sent to the County Hospital, Farnborough, Kent,
totalled 33.
Midwifery Service.
The Kent County Council provides and administers a domiciliary midwifery
service in the district.
Health Visiting.
Four Health Visitors were employed and the following shows the number of visits paid by them in connection with maternity and child welfare and tuberculosis up to the 5th July, 1948.
| First visits to infants under one year | 296 |
| Subsequent visits to infants under one year | 749 |
| Children between the ages of 1 and 5 years | 1,221 |
| Expectant Mothers | 151 |
| Post-Natal Mothers | 142 |
| Tuberculosis cases | 89 |
| Foster children | 51 |
| Diphtheria Immunisation | 99 |
| Measles | 2 |
| Whooping Cough | 18 |
| Home and Domestic Helps | 73 |
| Stillbirths | 3 |
| Miscellaneous visits | 16 |
| 2,910 |