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 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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The special equipment provided by the Council for the nursing of premature infants
born at home, which can be lent to households at the request of the doctor or midwife is
not greatly used nowadays. This is because, whenever possible, arrangements are made for
a premature baby to be born in hospital, where it can receive immediately any necessary
care and treatment. The items most in demand, and which serve a most useful purpose, are
special scales and the vitamin preparations. These preparations required to maintain
satisfactory development are given under the supervision and direction of the midwife and
health visitor.
For the premature infant born in hospital, continuity of treatment is maintained
from the day of discharge, when this is known. Indeed, it is often helpful for the health
visitor to visit the home before the discharge of the baby, who is often kept in hospital
for some weeks after his mother has gone home.
Day Nurseries and Child Minders.
Two day nurseries remained open during the whole of 1957. One hundred and sixteen
children were admitted.
First Priority:
| Parents separated | 13 | children |
| Mother unmarried | 12 | " |
| Mother widowed | 3 | " |
| Father in prison | 2 | " |
| Father in H.M. Forces | 1 | child |
| Parents divorced | 1 | " |
| Health of child | 2 | children |
| " " mother | 5 | " |
| " " father | 3 | " |
| Children from "Problem Families" | 7 | " |
| TOTAL | 49 |
Second Priority: (Financial needs assessed according
to income per head after certain
deductions) 53
Temporary admissions 14
TOTAL: 116
Analysis of the temporary admissions and the average number of days the children spent in nurseries:-
| Mother's confinement in Hospital | 8 | admissions | - average stay 17 days |
| Mother in Hospital for treatment | 2 | " | " " 32 " |
| Mother in Mental Hospital | 1 | admission | " " 81 " |
| Mother in Hospital for operation | 3 | admissions | " " 21 " |