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 Willesden]
This page requires JavaScript
12
CONNAUGHT HOSTEL:
The hostel has accommodation for 12 children. The total number of children admitted to the hostel
during the year was 182, with an average length of stay of 24 days.
Reasons for Admission:
163 were admitted because of confinement of the mother, and 19 because the mother was admitted
to a hospital or convalescent home.
Medical Care:
The health of the children is under the supervision of the medical officer from the Stonebridge Health
Centre, who visits weekly. A general practitioner is available in case of emergency.
The hostel was transferred to the care of the Children's Committee on December 5th, 1948.
CHILDREN'S HOMES:
Accommodation No.
St. Andrew's House, Barretts Green Road, Willesden 26
Chamberlain House, Barretts Green Road, Willesden 30
Morgan House, Barretts Green Road, Willesden 30
The Bungalow, Barretts Green Road, Willesden 20
14, Nicoll Road, Harlesden 12
6, Prout Grove, Willesden 13
8, Prout Grove, Willesden 13
The Children's Homes were transferred from the Public Assistance Committee of the Middlesex County
Council to the Children's Committee, following the Children's Act, 1948. The health of the children and the
hygiene in the Homes are now supervised by the medical officers from the centres, except in the case of Barretts
Green Road, where only the hygiene of the Homes is dealt with.
HOME HELP SERVICE:
There has been a considerable development of this work during 1948, but great difficulty has been
experienced in obtaining an adequate number of home helps.
The number of administrative staff employed during 1948 were:
Home Help Organiser 1
Clerical Staff (part-time) 1
Number of Home Helps:
Period | Whole-time | Part-time | Approx. equivalent to Whole-time |
---|---|---|---|
As at January 1st, 1948 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
As at December 31st, 1948 | 17 | 73 | 53½ |
The full-time helpers usually do two or three sick or chronic cases a day or work full-time on maternity
cases.
During the year 44 home helps resigned for various reasons, mainly because they found the work too hard.
The number of applications received in respect of maternity cases has increased, but many mothers do
not avail themselves of this valuable service. This may be due to the fact that they cannot afford the charge
for this service at a time when they are already involved in heavy additional expenses.
Review of Applications:
Period | Number of Applications received | Number actually helped | Not helped— insufficient Home Helps available | Not helped for various reasons |
---|---|---|---|---|
January 1st, 1948, to December 31st, 1948 | 595 | 511 | 50 | 34 |
Summary of Cases Helped:
Period | Maternity | Tuberculosis | Blind | Others | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 1st, 1948, to December 31st, 1948 | 65 | 57 | 14 | 375 | 511 |