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
East Ham 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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62
INSTITUTIONAL MIDWIVES
The numbers of midwives employed by East Ham Memorial Hospital, and
qualified at 31st December to administer gas and air analgesia were as
follows
1953 - 6
1954 - 5
The figures for 1953 and 1954 shew an overall decline in the use of
gas and air analgesia, but a considerable accession in the employ of
pethidine. This may be due partly to the smaller number of domiciliary
confinements, but I have reason to believe the instruction in relaxation,
and attendance at ante-natal exercise classes, also play a part in the
lessened need for gas and air analgesia in the various stages of labour.
The relaxation and ante-natal exercise classes are open to all women
at the discretion of the medical staff, and general practitioners are
reminded their patients too have free access to these clinics.
SECTION 24 - HEALTH VISITING SERVICE
All Health Visiting Services are provided by the Authority. There
are no agency arrangements with voluntary organisations
TABLE 38
| Year | Number of children under 5 years of age visited during year | Expectant Mothers | Children under 1 year of age | Children age 1 and under 2 years | Children age 2 but under 5 years | Other cases | Total number of families or households visited by Health Visitors | Number of attendances per month by Health Visitors at Clinic Sessions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First visits | Total visits | First visits | Total visits | Total visits | Total visits | Total visits | ||||||
| 1953 | 8,892 | 1,256 | 1,504 | 1,716 | 8,644 | 5,760 | 6,445 | 2,925 | 10,917 | 221 | ||
| 1954 | 7,709 | 1,291 | 1,624 | 1,568 | 9,033 | 5,229 | 8,075 | 2,319 | 18,584 | 275 | ||
There has been a tremendous increase in the true 'health visiting1
work of these tireless medico-social workers.
I have asked many difficult tasks of them, Including the investigation
of problem families, follow-up of troublesome hospital cases, and enquiries
for research of several kinds in which the health department was taking
part. Our highly trained health visitors under their able and alert
Superintendent Health Visitor, have risen to the task and spared no effort
to make their observations, record their findings, and give advice and
help where needed In the numerous ways indicated in the annual report for
1952.
They have effected good relationships and co-operation with the
family doctor and the hospitals, and have thus widened their front of
approach to the family.