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

Bromley 1947

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]

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42
of the Health Visitor. She is thus able to know the home conditions
(a very necessary factor in these days of acute housing
difficulties) under which children are living.

Table: The manner in which this work is carried out calls for the utmost skill and consideration in dealing with the harassed, and often perplexed, mothers, and it is gratifying to note, from letters which have been received, that the help and attention given has been much appreciated.

The manner in which this work is carried out calls for the utmost skill and consideration in dealing with the harassed, and often perplexed, mothers, and it is gratifying to note, from letters which have been received, that the help and attention given has been much appreciated.

19471946
Primary visits to children under 1 year11891089
Revisits to children under 1 year21831620
Revisits to children aged 1 to 5 years34482863
Special visits to expectant mothers5748
Home visits to school children312153
Special enquiries—stillbirths3419
Special enquiries—infant deaths1311
Miscellaneous256276
74926079
"Ineffectual" visits13081314
88007393
Classified visits (included in above): —
Diphtheria Immunisation257291
Boarded-out children4027
Adopted children64130

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CHILD LIFE PROTECTION.
The work carried out by the Health Visitors in the supervision
of foster-mothers continued satisfactorily during the year.
At 31st December, 11 children under the age of 9 years were in
the care of 10 foster-mothers, 4 children having been received
during the year. It was not necessary to take legal proceedings
during 1947.
In October, a panel was prepared of suitable persons who
were considered by the Health Visitors to be suitable potential
foster-mothers, and who would be willing to take charge,
temporarily, of any children during the time that their mothers
were in hospital for confinement, illness, etc.
It is too early, yet, to report on the practical application of
this scheme, but, at the time of writing, arrangements have been
made for several children, whose mothers are expecting to bo
confined in the near future, to be cared for by foster-mothers.