London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Beddington and Wallington 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Beddington and Wallington]
This page requires JavaScript
LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY TRANSFERRED FUNCTIONS.
As was explained in the preamble to the report, the following brief
statement summarises the work of the local health authority in respect
of the transferred functions.
The Care of Mothers and Young Children. During the year, the
policy in the conduct of infant welfare centres and general supervisory
control through health visiting was continued on similar lines by the
Surrey County Council, as when the service was administered by the
Corporation. The services in this district have continued to operate
smoothly and efficiently, and there has been no break in con.inuity.
The high standards previously set by the Corporation have been kept up.
Ante-natal and Post-natal Supervision. This clinic, as in previous
years, continued to be held at the Nurses' Home, 57, Montagu Gardens.
During the year, 254 women made 952 pre-natal attendances. This
represents an attendance of 57% of the total number of confinements
which occurred during 1949. Post-natal examinations were also conducted
at this clinic ; 28 patients making 34 attendances. As mentioned
in previous reports, however, considerably more women have post-natal
supervision than are recorded here. Those who have institutional
confinements usually return to hospital as a routine a few weeks after
their discharge, and have their post-natal examination conducted by
the hospital Medical Officers.
Infant Welfare Services. No changes were made during the year in the operation of the four infant welfare centres, and the number of attendances showed results comparable with those of previous years.
| Number attending | Total attendances | |
|---|---|---|
| Children under 1 year | 377 | 5,297 |
| Children, 1 - 5 years | 786 | 3,533 |
| Total attendances | 1,163 | 8,830 |
Institutional Confinements. Three hundred and five, or 69 per cent.
of births allocated to this district, took place in hospitals and Nursing
Homes. Many of these cases were admitted because of overcrowding
or other home conditions. Others were admitted to hospital for medical
reasons.
Domestic Help Service. This important branch of social service
continued to meet a great need during the year, both for confinements
and illness in the home. The service is administered by the Divisional
Medical Officer from the Wallington Town Hall, and during the year
one of the W.V.S. ladies (Mrs. D. Best) continued to act as Home Help
40