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 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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A summary card of each child is passed over to the School
Medical Officer immediately the child attends school (including
attendance at the Council's two Nursery Schools) This card
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
| Visits paid by all Health Visitors | First Visits | Total Visits |
|---|---|---|
| (a) To expectant mothers | 5115 | 19610 |
| (b) To children under one year of age | 5599 | 38067 |
| (c) To children 15 years of age | 1293 | 48277 |
| *(d) Infant Life Protection visits | 50 | 389 |
| *(e) S'pecial visits (Home Helps, etc) | — | 11108 |
| Total Visits | 117451 |
* Visits under (a), (b) and (c) include all visits to the homes
by Municipal Health Visitors and by those Nurses attached to the
Plaistow Maternity Hospital and to the various Voluntary Clinics
in the Borough Visits under (d) and (e) are made only by the
Municipal Health Visitors
Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics
There are twelve Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics in the
Borough, so situated that every district is within a reasonable
distance of a Clinic Of this number five are Municipal Clinics
staffed entirely bv the Council's medical and nursing staff; the
remaining seven are attached to various voluntary organisations
which are subsidised by the Council Antenatal sessions are held
weekly at each of the Municipal Clinics, and at four of the Voluntary
Clinics ; the majority of patients are referred by local mid
wives for antenatal examination and supervision, or are sent by
the Health Visitors : a number also report on the advice of friends
and other mothers who have attended the Clinic In the case of
the Municipal Clinics a written report is sent by the Medical Officer
of the Clinic to the midwife after each examination of the patient,
so that there is close and satisfactory cooperation in antenatal
work In addition, the midwife is notified immediately to visit
any patient who fails to keep her appointment for subsequent
examination
Antenatal supervision is definitely regarded as the normal procedure
by expectant mothers in this Borough, and it is rare for
either Midwife or Health Visitor to encounter opposition to this
supervision
Dental treatment has been provided at the Council's Maternity
and Child Welfare Clinics for the last six years for expectant and
nursing mothers and for the preschool child The decision of
the Council in February, 1935, to assist the women in the provision
of dentures after extractions has Droved invaluable in augmenting'
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