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 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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25
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.
Dr. Olive Aubrey attends each Centre once a week and
much valuable help is given by many voluntary lady
workers.
During the year there were the following number of attendances at the Centres :—
| Meetings. | Attendances | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| New Cases. | Total. | ||
| Eden Street | 51 | 223 | 3,486 |
| Washington Road | 48 | 98 | 1,749 |
The Health Visitors paid the following number of home visits:—
| First Visits. | Total Visits. | |
|---|---|---|
| Expectant Mothers | 74 | 91 |
| Infants under one year | 599 | 2,648 |
| Children, one to five years | — | 2,798 |
| Incidental and Infectious | — | 276 |
The above figures show an increase in work, despite
the fact that for two months 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 41 mothers have purchased 136 garments
during the year.
In February a similar Clothing Stall was commenced
at the Washington Road Centre, where 30 mothers purchased
112 garments before the end of the year.
Baby Week was held from July 6th to 11th, when the
Infant Welfare Centres and Day Nursery were open to
visitors on certain days.