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
Twickenham 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Twickenham]
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Other Hospitals.
The only general hospital in the borough is St. John's Hospital, of which the management
is by a voluntary Committee, and there is no resident medical staff. The number of beds is 34.
The other hospitals largely used by Twickenham residents are the West Middlesex County
Hospital, Isleworth, and the Royal Hospital, Richmond. Extensive use is also made of the
general and special hospitals in London.
Maternity Homes.
There is no municipal maternity home in the borough. Maternity cases are received at
almost all the private nursing homes, and admission to the maternity Wards at the West
Middlesex County Hospital is much sought after.
Following is a list of clinics and treatment centres within the borough :—
| Name. | Address. | Days of Attendance. | By whom provided. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic | York house | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, at 2 p.m. | Twickenham Council |
| Infant Welfare Centre and Branch School Clinic | Murray Park hall, Whitton | Mondays, 2.30 p.m. | ditto |
| Ante-natal Clinic | York house | Second and last Friday in each month | ditto |
| School Clinic, including minor ailments, dental and ophthalmic clinics | York house | Daily | Twickenham Education Committee |
| Tuberculosis Dispensary | 1 Staines Road | Wednesdays, 10 a.m | Middlesex County Council. |
| Diphtheria Immunization Clinic | York House | Mondays, 2 p.m., Saturdays, 9.30 a.m. | Twickenham Council |
Ambulances.
Two motor ambulances are provided by the Council, one for non-infectious and casualty
cases and one for the removal of patients to the Infectious Diseases Hospital. Both are staffed
and maintained by the Fire Brigade, and the services in connection with both ambulances have
been entirely satisfactory.
Following is a table of the use of the casualty ambulance during the year 1934.
| Total calls | Casualty calls | Patients carried | Mileage | Calls during 1933 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st quarter | 115 | 52 | 116 | 644.7 | 99 |
| 2nd quarter | 123 | 62 | 116 | 730.7 | 125 |
| 3rd quarter | 125 | 70 | 125 | 713.0 | 106 |
| 4th quarter | 127 | 63 | 127 | 626.8 | 105 |
| 490 | 247 | 484 | 2715.2 | 435 |
The casualty calls amounted to 50 per cent. of the total calls during the year.
The reciprocal arrangements for the use of the ambulance made with adjoining local
authorities have proved satisfactory, and no difficulty or undue delay in dealing with cases has
been experienced during the year.
Laboratory Facilities.
The bacteriological examination of specimens was carried out as usual by the Virol
Pathological Research Laboratories in London. The number of specimens sent for examination
during the year (including those taken at the hospital), was as follows :—
For Diphtheria, 638; for Tuberculosis, 97 ; Other 4.
MATERNITY.
The total number of births which were notified as occurring in the borough during the
year was 642, of which 27 were still births, 93 per cent. of the births being notified. Of the
642 births which were notified, 462 were notified by midwives and 180 by doctors or parents.
Midwives were present in 71.9 per cent. of the births, but it is possible that a medical practitioner
was also present in some of the cases notified by midwives.