London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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West Ham 1946

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]

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to the clinics at a very early period of pregnancy. This "first
come, first served "principle was abolished at the Municipal
Clinics towards the end of 1946, as it resulted in the wards of
Forest Gate Hospital being filled with mothers many of whom
did not urgently require institutional confinement. But, fortunately,
the tendency still remained for early booking arrangements
to be made, and so the Department was in close touch
with the majority of expectant mothers throughout pregnancy.
The uptake of vitamin supplements was low amongst the
priority classes in the Borough, so that considerable propaganda
has been required to encourage mothers to apply for these
preparations.
Child Welfare Clinics. The higher birth-rate obviously
raised the attendances of infants at the Child Welfare Clinics,
but there is still a lamentable tendency on the part of the
mothers to cease to bring the toddlers for regular supervision.
From experience over a number of years, I consider the mother
of a toddler needs more help and guidance than does the
mother of a baby under one year.
The Council's five Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics
functioned fully during 1946, and, in addition, regular sessions for
expectant mothers and children were held at Plaistow Maternity
Hospital, E.13, Avenons Road Clinic, E.13, and ante-natal
sessions only at the Plaistow Maternity Hospital Branch Homes
at Romfort Road, E.15, and Eldon Road, E.16 (opened on
4th December, 1946).
Total number who attended in 1946: —
Children—
(a) Under one year 2,394
(b) One to five years 3,907
Mothers—
(c) Total number of expectant mothers who
attended 7,508
(d) Total number of nursing mothers who
attended for routine post-natal examination 791
The Municipal Clinics were attended by the Council's two
full-time medical officers and by four part-time medical officers,
attending from 1-6 sessions per week each. Dr. Jessica Mestel
was granted leave of absence for 12 months from 30th June,
1946. Dr. Marguerite James was appointed temporary fulltime
assistant medical officer in her place.
DENTAL WORK. With the increase in attendance of
mothers and children at the Maternity and Child Welfare
Clinics, there has been a greater demand for dental treatment.
Mrs. Rogers, L.D.S., attended weekly at the three permanent
Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics, on a part-time basis of
6-7 sessions per week, but recently the increased number of
applications for dental treatment has required her services for
8-9 weekly sessions.
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