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
Kingston upon Thames 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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I regard this procedure as important in addition to
isolation of patients, exclusion of school contacts, and
routine disinfection of premises, etc., so careful inquiries
are made in every case with regard to washing, books, and
Sunday Schools.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
Two centres, one at the Y.M.C.A. Hall, Eden Street,
and the other at St. Peter's Hall, Washington Road, are
maintained by the Town Council.
During the year there were the following number of attendances at the Centres :—
| Meetings. | Attendances | |
|---|---|---|
| New Cases. | Total. | |
| Eden Street 51 | 3,015 | |
| Washington Road 52 | 91 | 1,039 |
The Health Visitors paid the following number of home visits:—
| First Visits. | Total-Visits. | |
|---|---|---|
| Expectant Mothers | 63 | 99 |
| Infants under one year | 552 | 1,331 |
| Children, one to five years | — | 2,347 |
| Incidental and Infectious | — | 437 |
The above figures show an increase in work, despite
the fact that for a month we were short of one nurse.
In necessitous cases, babies and nursing mothers are
provided with free milk on the recommendation of the presiding
medical officer.
Careful investigation is made into the circumstances of
each case to ascertain whether it falls within the approved
scale, and when recommended it is endorsed by the Medical
Officer of Health and approved by the Committee.
Dried milk is supplied at cost price.
At the Eden Street Centre there is an excellent Clothing
Stall, where 37 mothers have purchased 114 garments
during the year.
This stall is of considerable educational value, and it
is hoped it may be possible to inaugurate one at the
Washington Road Centre.
Baby Week was held from July 7th to 12th, when the
Infant Welfare Centres and Day Nursery were open to
visitors on certain days.
The following programme was carried out :—
Sunday, July 7th.—Special reference in local churches
and Sunday Schools.