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ties, particularly affects areas such as West Ham, where the
need is so great at present for supervision in the homes.
During 1946 the health visitors paid visits to the homes
as follows: —
To expectant mothers 7,784
To children under one year 12,034
To children between 1-5 years 15,760
To foster children 162
Other special cases 12,843
The need for immunisation against diphtheria was stressed
at every visit to a child under five years, and towards the latter
part of 1946 the health visitors were urged to concentrate
particularly on this preventive measure.
Premature babies received special attention. The health
visitor visited twice at least in the first four weeks of life and
thereafter monthly until she was satisfied that both mother
and baby were well. Notification was made on the birth card
of the infant's weight, so that every baby under 5½ lbs.
(according to the Ministry of Health Circular 20/44) was considered
premature. In 1946, 273 premature infants were born
in West Ham of women normally resident in the Borough.
Premature births, 1946: —
Total number 400
(a) Born at home 20
(b) Born in hospital 380
Of those born at home: —
(a) Completely nursed at home 20
(b) Died in first 24 hours 3
(c) Alive at end of first month 17
Of those born in hospital: —
(a) Died in first 24 hours 16
(b) Alive at end of first month 364
An arrangement has been in force for many years whereby
a midwife could send to hospital the premature infant and
mother, if necessary. In 1946 this facility was not used by any
district midwife; the midwives adopted, however, special
measures at home for the welfare of the infant, with very
considerable success.
A Premature Baby Unit will be established at Forest Gate
Hospital when the new Maternity Unit is completed, so that
every facility will then be available to protect these delicate
babies.
CLINIC WORK. This aspect of the work continued
steadily throughout 1946, with especially heavy ante-natal clinic
attendances.
Ante-Natal Clinics. The knowledge that it was difficult to
obtain admission to hospital for confinement brought mothers
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