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 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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The medical officers of the Health Department have continued to examine children
in the Council's family group homes and also those boarded out in West Ham.
Premature Infants.
Place of Birth and Deaths under 1 month: 1954.
| Number of Infants | Number died within 24 hours | Number died within 28 days | Number survived 28 days | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born & nursed at home | 19 | 19 | ||
| Born & nursed in hospital | 159 | 15 | 7 | 137 |
| Born at home & transferred to hospital | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| TOTAL: | 190 | 17 | 9 | 164 |
Out of a total of 59 deaths of infants under 1 year, whose place of residence is
in West Ham, 26 occurred in premature infants who died within the first month of life
(as shown in the above table). One of the latter was associated with congenital
abnormalities. The proportion of premature infants who died was much the same whether
they were born at home or in hospital; although a rather greater proportion of the babies
born in hospital were premature - doubtless because a number of expectant mothers are
admitted for the treatment of ante-natal abnormalities and complications. The prevention
o? premature births and the care of premature infants remains one of our most difficult
problems.
Day Nurseries and Child Minders.
Two Day Nurseries remained open during the whole of 1954, the Liverpool Road Nursery having closed on 26.5.54; the following table shows the average attendances:-
| Nursery | No. of Approved Places | Average Daily Attendance. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 years | Over 2 years | Total | ||
| Litchfield Avenue | 51 | 11 | 21 | 32 |
| Plaistow Road | 54 | 9 | 21 | 30 |
| Liverpool Road | 52 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
The drop in the number of children on the day nursery registers which followed the
introduction of the scale of charges in 1953 was maintained. It became evident that two
nurseries would be sufficient to meet the needs of those coming within the Council's
priority scheme, and Liverpool Road Nursery was closed as this was the least conveniently
situated.
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