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
Southwark 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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87
In this connection I must state that I am of opinion that all enquiries
and visits to newly-born infants, as well as those from 1 to 5 years, should
be made by the health visitors employed by the Council.
ANTENATAL CLINICS.
Antenatal Clinics are held at Sutherland House every Monday and
Friday mornings and one session is held monthly at St. Jude's Centre,
Lambeth Road. The attendances for the years are as follow:—
SUTHERLAND HOUSE. (Monday, Dr. Shepherd.)
During the year 171 mothers were seen and given advice, they made
467 attendances. Of this number, 36 were sent by midwives, 85 by the
health visitors, 4 by various hospitals, 1 by a private practitioner, and
45 came of their own accord.
SUTHERLAND HOUSE. (Friday, Dr. Bergin.)
228 mothers were seen and given advice; they made 498 attendances.
Dr. Bergin reports:—
TABLE 42.
The Locality of Rooms Disinfected and Stripped after the occurrence of Infectious Disease.
| St. Mary's Ward. | St. Paul's Ward. | St. Peter's District. | St. John's District. | Trinity Ward. | All Saints' District. | St. Michael's Ward. | St. Jude's Ward. | St. George's Ward. | Christchurch Ward. | St. Saviour's Ward. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disinfected | 253 | 227 | 203 | 254 | 186 | 178 | 289 | 170 | 180 | 124 | 109 | 2173 |
| Stripped | 6 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | - | — | — | — | 25 |
During the last year we arranged a new system of cards which are
transferred to the midwife before the confinement and afterwards returned
to the Medical Officer; in this way the Doctor may check his findings
antenatally with the result.
The midwives are now realising the importance of returning these
records, but there are still a number outstanding whose records have not
been returned. I would suggest that the midwives receive a small fee
for filling in and sending back these record cards, and also if a Doctor
transfers a midwife's case to Hospital for the confinement some compensation
should be made.
The majority of cases attending are referred by midwives, the figures
for 1931 being—199 sent by midwives; 20 sent by Health Visitors;
4 sent by Relieving Officers; 1 sent by T.B. Clinical Officer; 2 came of
their own accord; and 2 sent by the Centre Medical Officers.