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 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]
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At the end of 1970 the mothers who decided to keep their babies were living in the following way
| Had returned to parents or relatives | 27 |
| Had married putative father | 6 |
| Had married other than putative father | 4 |
| Were co-habiting | 12 |
| Were living in lodgings or own home | 9 |
| Mothers who parted with their babies or lost them | |
| By adoption | 30 |
| Miscarriages | 2 |
| Terminated (those known) | 5 |
| Still in care at end of the year | 1 |
| Arrangements incomplete at end of year—7 | |
| Cases who left district and whose decisions were not known | 4 |
Surveys
The department has taken part in a number of surveys during the year (either during the actual period of the survey or research project or later in the various follow' up functions) 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. |
| National Birthday Trust Fund and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. | Perinatal Mortality Survey. |
| Department of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital Medical School. | Urinary Tract Infections in Women. |
| Hammersmith Hospital, Royal Post-graduate Medical School. | Serum lipoproteins in infancy related to dietary history. |
| National Bureau for Co-operation in Child Care. | National Child Development Study. |
Guthrie Tests—Phenylketonuria
As recommended by the Department of Health and Social Security and the
Medical Research Council, all infants have continued to be tested for a rare but
important metabolic condition, hyperphenylalaninaemia (phenylketonuria), by taking
a blood sample on or soon after the sixth day of life. Laboratory facilities are provided
at Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton, and I am grateful to Dr. R. L. Newman for
effecting a prompt and efficient service.
I very much hope that all maternity hospitals will continue their policy of inform'
ing me whether or not this test has been performed if the baby is still in their care on
the sixth day of life. Without this information the chances of providing an efficient
screening service are very much reduced.
I am happy to report that during the year no positive result was recorded.
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