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 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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(it) Institutional Provision for Mothers and Children.
Other than the Maternity Hospital under the control of the
Joint Hospitals Committee the Council make no actual provision
for institutional treatment for mothers and children. Such
requirement is, however, adequately met by the hospitals under
the control of the Middlesex County Council, as well as the local
voluntary hospitals, who are always willing to accept recommended
cases.
(iii) 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 | 268 | |
| Total visits | 456 | |
| (b) To children under one year of age: | ||
| First visits | 791 | |
| Total visits | 2523 | |
| (c) To children between the ages of 1 and 5 years: | ||
| Total visits | 3616 | |
| (d) Ophthalmic visits | 18 | |
| (e) Other visits: | ||
| Measles | 2 | |
| Whooping Cough | 9 | |
| Epidemic Diarrhoea | ||
| Infant Life Protection visits | 344 | |
| Total visits | 6968 | |
(iv) Infant Life Protection (under Part I of the Children Act,
1908, as amended by the Children and Young Persons
Act, 1932).
The six Health Visitors and School Nurses employed by
the Council are appointed Infant Life Protection Visitors under
the above-mentioned Act and, as will be seen from the summary
of visits made as shown above, combine the work with that of
Health Visiting.
In addition to the visits from the Health Visitors, the
majority of fostermothers are required to bring fosterchildren
to the Child Welfare Clinics for periodical medical examination.