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
Merton 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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Health Education
The teaching of positive health in some form is an integral part
of every contact that a health visitor has with any member of the
public. In addition to this personal teaching, more formal group
teaching in health topics was undertaken in high and middle schools
on 118 occasions. 260 classes were given to expectant mothers to prepare
them for the birth and for the subsequent care of their babies.
On 57 evenings both expectant mother and father attended classes in
parentcraft. Here they saw films and discussed topics on preparing
them for their future role as parents. These are highly successful and
happy occasions.
Summary of Work of Health Visitors
The following tables give details of the number of children and other cases visited and attendances by the Health Visitors at the various clinics and centres:—
| To children under 5 yrs | To the mentally ill | To the mentally handicapped | To geriatric cases | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in 1972 | Other children aged under 5 years | Total | |||
| 2,768 | 9,649 | 12,417 | 228 | 131 | 1,544 |
Sessions attended by Health Visitors.
Local Authority Ante Natal Cytology
G.P. ante natal clinics
Developmental (Morden Road)
Special developmental 7/12, 9/12
Child health clinics
G.P. child health clinics
Toddler clinics
G.P. toddler/developmenta
Parentcraft (day)
Parentcraft (evening)
Expectant parents evenings
G.P. vaccination and immunisation
Case conferences
Screening tests of hearing of young children
Sessions with students
Meetings
Mothercraft
Slimming for health
G.P.'s obesity clinic
Older person's clinic
73
133
44
65
1,724
495
381
48
37
20
52
57
38
134
1,131
376
260
16
38
147
Sessions attended by State Registered Nurses.
Ante Natal/Cytology 268
Vaccination and immunisation 97
Developmental (Morden Road) 18
Child health clinics 512
Cystic fibrosis 55
Staff medicals 178
39