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 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]
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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. |
| Department of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital Medical School | Urinary Tract Infections in Women. |
| Department of Health & Social Security —Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation | National Surveillance of Congenital Rubella defects. |
| National Survey of Health and Development (Medical Research Unit) | National Survey of Health and Development, Education and Employment of children born in 1946. |
| London Borough of Hounslow | Combined Obstetric/Child Health Project. |
| West Middlesex and South Middlesex Hospitals | Infective Jaundice (reference to this survey is made in the section of the report on infectious diseases, page 13. |
Guthrie Tests — Phenylketonuria
All infants continued to be tested for hyperphenylalaninaemia (phenylketonuria),
a rare but important metabolic condition, by taking a blood sample on or soon after the
sixth day of life. I am grateful to Dr. R. L. Newman for the prompt and efficient laboratory
service provided at Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton.
I am happy to report that during the year no positive result was recorded.
Special Observation/Handicap Register
This combined register of children with known handicap and those whose progress
appears to be in doubt or who appear at special risk of developing a handicap whether
physical, mental or emotional continues to be of value.
At the end of the year 270 children under five years of age had been identified as
requiring special observation whilst 131 children had been classified as having a definite
continuing physical and/or mental handicap. There will undoubtedly be more young
children in these categories living in the Borough and the extensive task of considering
every child will take some time to complete.
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 6 sessions a week,
two have 3 sessions a week, 7 have two sessions a week, 2 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.
For details of attendances etc. during the year, see page 23.
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