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 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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contains brief notes regarding physical and mental development
from birth, and any illnesses from which the child may have
suffered prior to school age, and is thereafter included in the
appropriate dossier of the school child concerned.
| First Visits | Total Visits | |
|---|---|---|
| (a) To expectant mothers | 5535 | 2026,1 |
| (b) To children under one year of age | 5780 | 42824 |
| (c) To children from 1—5 years of age | 1751 | 68785 |
| †(d) Infant Life Protection visits | 531 | |
| †(e) Special Visits (Home Helps, etc.) | 12734 | |
| Total Visits | 145,135 | |
†Special visits are made only by the Municipal Health
Visitors; visits under (a), (b) and (c) include all those paid to
the homes not only by Municipal Health Visitors, but also by
Nurses from the Plaistow Maternity Hospital and the other
various voluntary Clinics in the Borough.
Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics.
The Borough is now well provided with Clinics under the
Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme: that these Clinic Services
are appreciated by the mothers is evidenced by the regular attendances
at all Centres for antenatal supervision, for post-natal
advice and for the supervision of the infants and young children.
There are five Municipal Clinics and in addition seven Centres
under voluntary Associations, all subsidized by the Council.
Antenatal Clinics are held at the five Municipal and at four of the
Voluntary Centres: the midwives avail themselves of the opportunities
offered to their patients by urging attendance at the
Clinics, and, as a written report on her patient is sent after each
examination by the Clinic Medical Officer to the midwife, she is
kept in close touch with her cases throughout pregnancy. The
majority of mothers present themselves willingly for antenatal
care and examination, and attend regularly as required. The
need for dental treatment is not so well received and understood
by the expectant mothers; this is partly due to the "fear of being
hurt," and also results from wrong advice given by friends that
such treatment "might do harm." Intensive propaganda and
personal talks between doctor and patient and by Health Visitors
and Midwives to the mothers individually will ultimately break
down the prejudice that at present prevails.
There has been no change in the Clinic Service, but owing
to the increased attendances at Maybury Road Clinic it will soon
be necessary to establish a third infant welfare session.
51