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
Hackney 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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Number of children who attended Council clinics during 1969:
Who were born in 1969 3,652
Who were born in 1968 3,147
Who were born in 1964-67 4,414
Total attendances 41,604
Number of sessions 1,804
Number medically examined 19,023
Number referred elsewhere 659
| Barton House | Shoreditch H.C. (inc. Cranston) | Elsdale Street (inc. Wick) | John Scott H.C. | Lower Clapton | Richmond Road | Upper Clapton | West Hackney | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated population served by the Centre | 23,500 | 35,500 | 37,000 | 28,500 | 32,500 | 31,500 | 36,500 | 13,500 |
| Total number of children who attended | 1,430 | 1,309 | 1,662 | 850 | 1,482 | 1,206 | 1,713 | 1,591 |
| Total attendances | 5,425 | 4,619 | 5,940 | 4,572 | 5,043 | 4, 441 | 5, 613 | 5,351 |
| Number of sessions | 201 | 203 | 324 | 202 | 251 | 253 | 286 | 176 |
| Number of children medically examined | 2,373 | 2,103 | 2,695 | 1,891 | 2,646 | 2,228 | 2,945 | 2,237 |
| Number referred elsewhere | 67 | 72 | 34 | 131 | 60 | 26 | 252 | 30 |
| Average attendance per session | 27 | 22 | 18 | 23 | 23 | 14 | 20 | 27 |
| Per cent medically examined | 46 | 45 | 45 | 41 | 47 | 50 | 32 | 42 |
| Per cent referred by M.O. elsewhere | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
Babies and toddlers are given full developmental examinations at 1, 2, 3
and 4 years of age, tests for vision, hearing, speech assessment and attainment
of milestones being included at these times. Physical and mental difficulties
are thus ascertained as early as possible.
Child health examinations can be time consuming and it was decided that
detailed information of their quality and quantity would be of great interest.
In July 1969, an analysis of medical examinations was commenced. A form has
been devised whereby medical officers submit numbers of full and partial
examinations performed at all sessions plus the numbers of immunisations
carried out. General practitioners will in due course receive notifications
of all examinations performed at the child health centres for children on
their lists.
Following a study by an expert Committee, the Department of Health and
Social Security recommended that the Phenistix urine test for Phenylketonuria
be replaced by the Guthrie test of blood specimens and this was introduced in
this Borough towards the end of 1969. Blood is collected from the baby by a
heel prick on to absorbent filter paper between the seventh and fourteenth
days of life and an estimation of the level of Phenylalanine is made.
Domiciliary Midwives test babies at home together with any baby born in
hospital but discharged before the seventh day. Positives and doubtful positives
only are notified to the Health Department and the general practitioners.
No positive cases were, however, reported in 1969. One child in the borough
who had proved to be positive in a previous year is continuing the special
diet that is needed when Phenylketonuria is diagnosed. The Phenistix Test has
been retained for use if the Guthrie Test is refused or when two attempts to
obtain a satisfactory blood specimen have been unsuccessful.