Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Twickenham]
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Infant Welfare Clinics.
The new Clinic at Hospital Bridge Road, Whitton, was used for the first time in April.
There are now five centres for Infant Welfare, ten sessions for infant consultation being
held weekly.
1 he total attendances of children under 5 years of age at the various sessions numbered 17,792 during the year. The figures for each centre are set out below:—
1937 New Cases | York House Centre | Whitton Centre | Teddington Centre | Hampton Centra | Hampton Wick Centre | Totals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Under 1 year | 293 | 279 | 168 | 120 | 36 | 896 |
1-5 Years | 47 | 138 | 63 | 45 | 26 | 319 |
Mothers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
Total Attendances | ||||||
Under 1 Year | 3282 | 3354 | 1863 | 2148 | 435 | 11082 |
1-5 Years | 1195 | 1947 | 1281 | 1965 | 322 | 6710 |
Mothers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 11 |
Total attendances at all centres | 19027 |
In addition to the usual advice given as to care and nutrition of the infants attending the
centres, medical and surgical treatment was found necessary for 239 children and was obtained by
129 of these.
Medical or surgical treatment of nursing mothers was found to be necessary in 43 cases
and was received by 29 of these during the year.
Dental Treatment of Children under 5 years.
This service, which before amalgamation, was not available for children in the Hampton
district, is now provided for children throughout the entire Borough. During the year 79
children under 5 years of age received completed dental treatment.
Infant Life Protection.
All the Health Visitors are appointed Infant Life Protection Officers, and the visits of
supervision of foster-children are carried out by them.
The details as to registration during 1937 were:—
Number of foster children on register at beginning of year 96
Number removed from register 65
Number registered for first time during year 64
Number on register at end of 1937 95
Deaths of foster children 1
Orthopaedic Treatment.
No formal arrangement has been made in the Borough for the treatment of children
requiring massage, orthopaedic treatment or remedial exercises. The facilities provided by
the Middlesex County Council at the West Middlesex Hospital, Isleworth, include the services of
an orthopaedic surgeon, and cases can be treated as out-patients or admitted if necessary for
operative treatment.
While there are also facilities for massage and remedial exercises, for which frequent
attendance is required, the distance to be travelled by patients is considerable and the time which
is occupied in taking children to the hospital cannot be easily spared by working-class mothers.
One child, under 5 years of age, was sent to a convalescent home, and two were admitted
to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, during the year, at the expense of the Committee.
I
NURSING HOMES.
The Local Supervising Authority for the Registration of Nursing Homes in the Borough
has, hitherto, been the Middlesex County Council, but that Council resolved to delegate their
powers to the Corporation from October 1st, and in consequence the duties in connection with
the registration and inspection of Nursing Homes are now undertaken by the medical staff of the
Corporation.
There are 12 private nursing homes in the Borough which are registered. The three
voluntary hospitals which receive private patients are exempted from registration.
The records received from the Middlesex County Council were filed, the Homes inspected
by the Senior Assistant Medical Officer, and arrangements made for periodic inspection to be
carried out by the same officer.