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 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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"Prevention of Infectious Diseases", "Safety in the Home", "Footwear and Care of the Feet",
"Diet and Management of the Toddler", "Diet of the Expectant Mother" and "Suitable Toys for
Children of Various Ages". The Superintendent Nursing Officer and her Deputy also give a
number of talks on parentcraft to mothers' clubs run by voluntary organisations and by the
Plaistow Maternity Hospital.
The clinics are equipped with wall blackboards, cork boards for posters, and showcases
in which children's clothing, play material and displays on the prevention of
accidents in the home, etc., are exhibited. Leaflets carefully selected from those
published by reputable bodies are distributed as required on such subjects as Breast Feeding,
Children's Diets, Care of the Feet, Stammering, Bedwetting and Behaviour Disorders. A
number of copies of the publication "Better Health" are distributed each month.
Attendances at all the Child Welfare Sessions (including the Toddlers' Clinics) are set out below for the period 1949-1952:-
| Children under 1 Year | Children 1-5 Years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | |
| Number of individual children | 2,305 | 2,282 | 2,406 | 2,042 | 3,919 | 4,521 | 5,917 | 5,596 |
| x(70%) | (79%) | (83%) | (74%) | (25%) | (28%) | (41%) | (44%) | |
| Number of attendances | 25,874 | 24,611 | 25,731 | 26,024 | 10,691 | 12,655 | 14,676 | 14,038 |
| (10.8) | (10.7) | (12.8 | (2.7) | (2.8) | (2.5) | (2.5) | ||
Notes: xst Figures shown in brackets indicate the approximate percentage of available
children within the age groups who attended the Clinics.
† Figures shown in brackets indicate the average number of attendances made
by each child.
Consultant Clinics.
The following Specialist Clinics are available on Local Authority premises (through
the School Health Service). The numbers of pre-school children referred to these Specialist
Clinics during 1952 were as follows:-
Ophthalmic 147
Ear, Nose and Throat 77
Paedlatric 74
Child Guidance 14
Speech Therapy 9
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