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
Heston and Isleworth 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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Ambulance Facilities.
The Joint Hospital Committee provides a motor ambulance for the removal of cases of
infectious diseases other than smallpox, ophthalmia neonatorum and puerperal pyrexia. Cases
of the latter infectious diseases are removed to other hospitals by special arrangements.
For non-infectious and accident cases the council provides two motor ambulances at the
Central Fire Station. Middlesex County Council provides an ambulance service in connection
with West Middlesex County Hospital.
These ambulance facilties are adequate for the Borough.
Nursing in the Home.
The Isleworth District Nursing Association and the Osterley, North Hounslow and
Heston Nursing Association each employ four nurses whose services are available for home
nursing and treatment but not for maternity cases. During 1938 these nurses paid 25,834 visits.
The Council makes a contribution to the funds of these Associations.
The British Red Cross Society maintains a loan depot from which invalid chairs, air rings,
etc., can be hired.
Treatment Centres and Clinics.
(a) INFANT WELFARE CENTRES.
The following attendances were made at these centres during 1938:—
| Hounslow | Isleworth. | Heston | Cranford | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of sessions | 340 | 149 | 101 | 78 | 668 |
| Attendances :— (a) under 1 year | 10,659 | 5,884 | 3,936 | 2,370 | 22,849 |
| (b) 1 to 5 years | 10,631 | 6,583 | 3,017 | 2,099 | 22,330 |
| (c) all ages | 21,290 | 12,467 | 6,953 | 4,469 | 45,179 |
| Average attendance per session | 63 | 81 | 69 | 57 | 68 |
| No. of individual babies who attended :— (a) under 1 year | 424 | 256 | 170 | 84 | 934 |
| (b) 1 to 5 years | 1,494 | 816 | 402 | 286 | 2,998 |
| (c) all ages | 1,918 | 1,072 | 572 | 370 | 3,932 |
| Average attendances per child | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11.5 |
| No. of consultations with medical officer:— (a) under 1 year | 3,909 | 1,540 | 1,098 | 668 | 7,215 |
| (b) 1 to 5 years | 2,938 | 1,402 | 708 | 658 | 5,706 |
| (c) all ages | 6,847 | 2,942 | 1,806 | 1,326 | 12,921 |
| Average consultations per session | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 19 |
The work of the centres is almost wholly of an advisory nature and advice is given on
diet, nurture, hygiene and on the treatment of minor disturbances of health in infants and young
children. When further measures of treatment are required the children are referred to private
practitioners, hospitals or the appropriate municipal clinic.
Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Clinics.
During the year three sessions have been held weekly at Isleworth Health Centre.
Midwives are encouraged to bring their own cases to these clinics and the municipal midwives
assist at these clinics as far as their other duties permit. No alteration or extension of this
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