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
Richmond upon Thames 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]
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Surveys
The department has taken part in a number of surveys during the year, which has included the following: —
| Sponsoring Body. | Subject of Survey. |
|---|---|
| Greater London Council. | Children suffering from spina bifida. |
| Institute of Child Health. | A study of mothers of children born with anencephaly or spina bifida cystica in the Greater London area. |
| Oxford University. | Childhood cancers. |
| The Welsh National School of Medicine, University of Wales. | Changes in method of infant feeding in England and Wales over the period 1960-1968 (domiciliary births). |
| Gallon Laboratory of the Department of Human Genetics and Biometry, University College, London. | Study of the mucopolysaccharidoses. |
| Greater London Council. | Work of Health Visitors. |
| Medical Research Council Unit, London School of Economics. | National Survey of Health and Development. |
| Department of Community Medicine, Guy's Hospital Medical School. | District Nursing. |
Phenylketonuria
In accordance with the recommendation of the Medical Research Council that
phenistix testing for phenylketonuria should be replaced by the Guthrie test on blood
specimens taken from each infant on the sixth to fourteenth day of life, arrangements
were made during the year to introduce the Guthrie test in this Borough. Laboratory
facilities were provided by the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board
at Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshaiton, from 1st August, 1969, in respect of blood
specimens from the Richmond side of the river, and from 1st November, 1969, this
facility was extended to the Middlesex bank. These blood tests are carried out either
in hospital or on the district by the domiciliary midwife or health visitor. The parents
of the babies are notified by the health visitor of the result of the test. I am happy to
report that up to the end of the year no positive result had been recorded.
Early Detection of Deafness
In order that children who have a hearing loss may be detected as early as possible,
routine hearing tests are performed by the health visitors and clinic doctors from the
age of six months.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
(See page 58).
Child Health Clinics
At the end of the year, there were 12 child health clinics. (For location of clinics
etc. see map inside the cover at the end of the report). One clinic has 5 sessions a week,
two have 3 sessions a week, 6 have two sessions a week, 3 have one session a week.
To augment the above the arrangement made with Surrey County Council for the
use of its mobile clinic was continued. Five sessions in alternate weeks are held at sites
in Hampton, Twickenham and Whitton.
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