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
Walthamstow 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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CLINICS•
Dr.Dheppard reoorts as fallows:-
"The Welfare Centres continued their good work as usual during
1940. In September the numbers temporarily went down but even
then many of the mothers attended regularly.
Up to the end of 1940 war conditions had not noticeably
affected the health of the under fives', and it is hoped that
this happy state of affairs will continue.
The national Mill: Scheme is especially good for the toddlers,
but does not adequately meet the requirements of those babies whoso
mothers ore unable to feed them naturally. Your Committee,
therefore, continues to supply those babies with the appropriate
baby foods.
The Committee's thanks are again due to the Voluntary Workers
who, in spite of difficulties, continue to give their valuable
services.
The .Ante-Natal Clinics continue to be well attended and in fact
at the close of the year showed a tendency to increase.
The health of the mothers, in spite of air-raids etc. showed
no deterioration.
ANTE-NATAL AND POST-NATAL SERVICES.
The fallowing table summarises the attendances at the Clinics held:-
| New Patients | Ante-Natal | post-Natal. |
|---|---|---|
| Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital | 750 | 330 |
| Low Hall Lane Clinic | 353 | 3 |
| 333 | ||
| Total Attendances:- | ||
| Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital | 7429 | 470 |
| Low Hall Lane Clinic | 932 | 5 |
| 8361 | 473 |
| Clinic | First Attendances of New Cases | Re-attendances . | Grand Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 yr. of age | 1-5 yrs of age | Total | Under 1 yr. of age | 1-5 yrs. of age | Total | |||
| 936 | ||||||||
| 38923 | ||||||||
NURSE CHILDREn.- At the end of 1940 there were 48 nurse
children on the register, compared with 58 at the end of 1939.
During the year 18 removed, 3 were adopted, and 4 reached the age
of nine years. 15 new children were registered and re-registered.
There were no deaths among nurse children during 1940 .
MASSAGE.- Five massage sessions per week were held at the
Welfare Centres, i.e., Low Hall Lane, Monday, Thursday and Friday;
Highans Park, Tuesday; and Higham Hill, Wednesday.
168 cases attended for massage, and these made 1,806 attendances.
SALE OF MILK., ETC. AT CLINICS.- The value of milk and food
sold and issued free during 194.0. was £2245.13.4d.
30.