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
West Ham 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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Private Practice :
Midwives residing within Borough—
| a | 180 | 37 |
| b | 123 | 18 |
| c | 149 | 21 |
| d | 0 | 0 |
| e | 2 | 1 |
| f | 1 | 0 |
| g | 91 | 8 |
| h | 0 | 0 |
| i | 0 | 0 |
Practising within, but
residing without Borough—
| a | 164 | 11 | |
| b | 0 | 0 | |
| 90 | 4363 | 735 |
Health Visiting.
As stated previously, visits are paid at regular intervals to
infants and children under 5, when advice is given as to feeding,
clothing, and general management. More systematic visiting of
expectant mothers has been instituted during the year; visits are
paid once a month to such mothers, resulting in an increased
interest in, and attendance at, the antenatal clinics. Special visits
and enquiries are made into the causes of all deaths up to 5 years
of age, and into all stillbirths. Any special cases, e.g. Puerperal
Fever, Puerperal Pyrexia, Ophthalmia Neonatorum and Pemphigus
Neonatorum are visited frequently as long as is necessary.
| (1) | To Expectant Mothers :— (a) First Visits | 1540 | |
| (b) Total Visits | 2264 | ||
| (2) | To Infants under one year:— | ||
| (a) First Visits | 3883 | ||
| (b) Total Visits | 17198 | ||
| (3) | To children 1—5 years :— | ||
| Total | 16652 | ||
| (4) | Special visits (Home Helps, | 10385 | |
| Total visits | 46499 |
This enormous total will convey some idea of the extent of
the work of the Health Visitors, and throws into relief the importance
of the Maternitv and Child Welfare Scheme.
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