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
Willesden 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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26
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
1,744 mothers and infants were inspected during the year. 1,642 required treatment and of these 1,035
completed, and 205 partially completed, their treatment at the Centres.
1,912 teeth were removed and 2,180 fillings done, while 1,519 other operations were performed on the gums
and teeth.
102 patients were supplied with dentures and one patient had a denture repaired.
General anaesthetics were administered to 659 cases and local anaesthetics to 108.
The total number of attendances recorded during 501 treatment sessions was 5,119, or an average of 10 cases
per session.
A summary of the work done is given in the table below.
| E.M. | N.M. | 0-5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number inspected | 817 | 211 | 716 | 1,744 |
| Number brought forward from previous year | 133 | 31 | 36 | 200 |
| Total number under observation during year | 950 | 212 | 752 | 1,944 |
| Number completed. . | 394 | 149 | 490 | 1,033 |
| Number partially completed | 132 | 35 | 38 | 205 |
| Number not availing themselves of treatment | 307 | 27 | 62 | 396 |
| Number treated by other agencies | 25 | 2 | — | 27 |
| Number carried forward | 76 | 27 | 78 | 181 |
| Number with no defect | 16 | 2 | 84 | 102 |
| Number of attendances . . . . . . .. | 2,712 | 816 | 1,591 | 5,119 |
| Number of teeth removed | 916 | 355 | 641 | 1,912 |
| Number of teeth filled | 1,190 | 326 | 664 | 2,180 |
| Number of other operations on the gums and teeth | 817 | 393 | 309 | 1,519 |
| Number of general anaesthetics | 286 | 100 | 273 | 659 |
| Number of local anaesthetics | 65 | 31 | 12 | 108 |
| Number of treatment sessions | — | — | — | 501 |
| Number of patients who received dentures during the year: | ||||
| At cost to Council | At cost to Applicant | At part cost to Applicant | Total | |
| Dentures | 14 | 40 | 48 | 102 |
| Repairs | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Total | 15 | 40 | 48 | 103 |
REPORT ON DAY NURSERIES FOR THE YEAR 1947.
On 1st January, 1947, there were 12 Day Nurseries open in Willesden. In April, 1947, Olive Road Nursery
was closed to release a housing site, and Braintcroft Nursery was closed in May to reopen as a nursery school. The
remaining 10 Nurseries accommodate 490 children and the attendances for the year total 112,015. On the 31st
December, 1947, the number of children awaiting admission to Day Nurseries in Willesden was 806.
The areas with the longest waiting list are Kilburn, Harlesden and Cricklewood, and partly to satisfy the
demand for nursery accommodation it would appear necessary to provide an additional nursery in each of the above
areas as soon as possible, bearing in mind that the Kilburn area should take preference in being the first to have a
second nursery established on account of its overcrowded conditions.
Priority Waiting List.—Because of the long waiting list at the various nurseries, the Council, at its meeting
on the 27th July, 1947, agreed to make certain cases priorities, and these are as follows :—
(1) Where there is no father or no mother ;
(2) Where one parent is a chronic invalid ;
Consideration is to be given to the nature of the work of the mother, e.g., factory in preference to domestic work.