London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Richmond upon Thames 1965

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]

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Incidence of Congenital Malformations
Since 1st January, 1964 the Ministry of Health have required all congenital
malformations in new-born babies to be notified by Local Health Authorities to the
Registrar General, so as to enable the latter to complete statistical information from
which to detect any national or regional changes in the pattern of congenital malformations.
The number of babies born with defects during 1965 was 67.
Puerperal Pyrexia Regulations
Three cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified during the year. All occurred in
domiciliary practice and subsequently recovered.
Family Planning
Health education in family planning in the Borough is largely undertaken by the
medical officers, nursing staff, and social workers in their day-by-day educational
activities and, additionally, facilities are available for talks on this subject to voluntary
societies and family groups.
Family doctors are also concerned with family planning advice and may provide
it as part of the general medical care of their patients, many of whom will choose to
go to their own doctors for such advice.
The Council do not operate family planning clinics of their own but have made
available to the Family Planning Association three clinics for the purpose of holding
family planning sessions at Hampton Wick, Richmond and Whitton. No charge is
made for the use of the premises. The Council accepts financial responsibility for
advice and treatment, including supplies, given to women to whom pregnancy would
be detrimental to health and who are referred by the Council's medical officers. No
charge is made to the patients in this category.
During 1965 six women were so referred.
Care of Unsupported Mothers and Their Babies
Local health authorities have a statutory duty under the National Health Service
Act, 1946 to make arrangements for the care of expectant and nursing mothers and
their infants. The majority of those mothers who may be termed unsupported are
unmarried, but there are also a few who are married but who are homeless and thus
have special needs. A full-time Social Welfare Worker is employed by the Council,
who is responsible for seeing that each patient receives ante-natal care and hospital or
residential accommodation if necessary and gives to the mother any necessary assistance
in the care of the baby on discharge from a mother and baby home. If the mother is
unable to provide the necessary care the Social Welfare Worker will assist by
endeavouring to find suitable residential employment, foster home, or, when required,
help with application to an adoption agency. The Council accepts financial responsibility
for the provision of accommodation in mother and baby homes for unsupported
persons first discovered to be pregnant when living in the Borough, and these women
are required to contribute towards the cost according to their means. There are no
mother and baby homes in the Borough. During the year the Council were responsible
for the cost of 105 cases placed in homes outside the area.
One gets the impression that there has been an increase in the volume of the work,
but despite this trend, it has been possible to offer hostel accommodation to all who have
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