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
Brentford and Chiswick 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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(d) The Chiswick Ante-Natal Clinic is advertised only on
the wall of the School Building in Heathfield Terrace, together
with the names of many other activities carried on in the
Building, while at the Brentford Baths there is nothing to
indicate that a Clinic even exists.
Summary.
It is estimated that some 40 per cent. of Maternal Deaths
are due to causes that should be dealt with during the Ante-Natal
period.
From this it follows that a really efficient Ante-Natal
service is an important factor in the reduction of Maternal
Mortality and it is suggested that the Council's Ante-Natal
service should increase its usefulness by :—
(1) Keeping up to date in Clinic methods ; and
(2) Increasing the numbers of individual attendances by
the help of Health Visitors, Midwives, Medical Practitioners and
Advertising.
Health Visitors.
The following table gives a brief summary of the work
carried out by the Health Visitors during the year :—
Number of Visits paid during the Year by all Health
Visitors.
| (a) | To expectant mothers : First Visits 265 | |
| Total Visits | 424 | |
| (b) | To children under 1 year of age : First Visits 753 | |
| Total Visits | 2938 | |
| (c) | To children between the ages of 1 and 5 years : | |
| Total Visits | 4332 | |
| (d) | Ophthalmic Visits | 19 |
| (e) | Other Visits : Measles | 57 |
| Whooping Cough | 7 | |
| Epidemic Diarrhoea | 3 | |
| Infant Fife Protection Visits | 344 | |
| Total Visits | 8124 | |