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

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Merton 1965

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]

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of families moving into and out of the Borough. This is most probably
due to a combination of high rents, mobility of labour and the
fact that the Borough has housing property outside its boundaries.
This often means a changing, and heavier, case load for Health
Visitors.
The second problem is the increasing number of coloured families
in the Borough, mainly in the North Mitcham, Colliers Wood and
Wimbledon Park areas. These families occupy more than the usual
amount of the Health Visitor's time owing to their different habits
and customs, and language difficulties. It is very often found that the
women are anxious to go out to work or to resume their studies quickly
after a confinement, and great care is needed to ensure that their
children are not unsatisfactorily minded, nor left alone, nor inadequately
cared for.
SUMMARY OF WORK OF HEALTH VISITORS

The following table shows the number of cases in the various categories visited by the Health Visitors in 1965: —

Category.Number of cases visited.
Children born in 19653,164
Children born in 19643,211
Children born in 1960/38,329
Total, 1960-196514,704
Persons aged 65 and over369
Mentally disordered persons242
Total15,315

Attendances at Clinics and Centres—
No. of attendances at Welfare Centre Sessions 2,109
No. of attendances at Ante-natal and Post-natal clinic
sessions 339
HEALTH EDUCATION
This essential aspect of Public Health is being rapidly developed
by means of teaching groups which the Health Visitors hold in
schools, talks which are given to outside organisations, and Mothercraft
and Parentcraft sessions which are held at the various Welfare
Centres. Use is also made of leaflets, posters and displays.
A film on smoking and lung cancer was shown to Parentcraft
Classes, and posters were displayed at the various clinics throughout
the area.
There were no special lectures devoted to venereal diseases, but
the topic is generally included in the health education programme,
particularly relating to personal hygiene. The policy of displaying
posters giving details of treatment centres has been continued.
MIDWIFERY
STAFF
At 31st December, 1965, the staff consisted of:—
1 Non-medical Supervisor of Midwives.
31