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
Wanstead and Woodford 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wanstead and Woodford]
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Health Centres.
The earmarking of Health Centre sites within the Borough is a difficult
one in view of the built-up area and housing needs.
Originally seven sites were considered but this has now been reduced
to four. One of the greatest problems has been to consider whether it is
Justified to sterilize sites for a long term policy of this nature in view of
the acute housing shortage and the use to which these sites could be put.
The following table summarises the attendances at the Ante-natal Clinic, 118 Hermon Hill, Wanstead: —
| Ante-Natal | Post-natal | Gynaecolgical | Birth Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1126 | 27 | 9 | 148 |
Vital Statistics.
These are given in Section A of this report. The birth rate of 13.5
is below that for England and Wales. The infant mortality rate was 18.9,
the lowest on record for the Borough, as against 29.8 for England and
Wales, and the neo-natal mortality rate was 16.5 per 1000 live births.
The deaths of infants under one year were:—
| Males | Females | Total | Rate per 1000 Live Births | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legitimate | 9 | 6 | 15 | 18.0 |
| Illegitimate | — | 1 | 1 | 66.6 |
| 22 Stillbirths were notified, giving a stillbirth rate of 25.3 per 1000 total births and 0.35 per 1000 population. | ||||
Care of Premature Infants.
During 1950, 31 premature infants were born to residents of the
Borough, 4 of these births taking place at home and 27 in hospital or
nursing home. Of those born at home 3 were alive at the end of one
month; 24 of the 27 born in hospital or private nursing home survived.
Child Welfare Centres.
The Child Welfare Centre continues to play an important part in the
Health Service of the Borough and by the end of the year 18,499 attendances
had been made by children at the six centres, in comparison to
21,783 during the year 1949. These figures were made up as follows:
Baptist Church Hall, Aldersbrook 1388
Ashton Playing Fields, Woodford Bridge 2427
St. Barnabas Church Hall, Snakes Lane 2708
Fullers Road, South Woodford 4898
Cromwell Hall, Nightingale Lane, Wanstead 3022
Holy Trinity, Hermon Hill, South Woodford 4056
TOTAL 18,499
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