Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southgate]
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of any important conclusion being derived.
Other Vital Statistics.
The remaining vital statistics applicable to Southgate
do not show any points which seem to call for special
notice.
Maternity & Child Welfare.
The total attendances at the various Maternity & Child
Welfare Clinics held in the district during the year
show little or no alteration from those of 1939. It
is, however, pleasing to be able, to report that approximately
83% of mothers in this area are taking advantage
of the Clinic facilities, as against 75% in. 1939. Our
aim should be to increase this percentage still further
although it may be difficult to better figures which are
in many ways outstanding.
It is also a source of great satisfaction -to note that
the average attendance at our Pre-Natal Clinics has
risen from 17.9 in 1939 to 19.12 last year, the totals
for the saiae two years being 1092 and 1912 respectively.
The importance of pre-natal work need not be stressed,
this being a field which obviously repays all the effort
put into it.
It will be noted that the total number of visits paid
by the Health Visitors for all purposes during'. 1940,
was 4,794, as against 5,7l5 during the previous year.
The declitre in the number of visits paid is quite
obviously due to the increased number of clinics held,
and the consequent number of hours devoted to that phase
of Maternity & Child Welfare work.
The staff of the Maternity b Child Welfare Department
is well aware of the fact that home visiting. plays an
important part in Child Welfare, and all possible steps
are being taken to raise the number of visits to the
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