[Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health, Cambridge Borough.

  • Cambridge (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1955
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health, Cambridge Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    68/76 (page 68)
    INFANT WELFARE. Premature Births.—The number of live premature births (i.e., birth weight 5 lbs. 8 ozs. or less) in the cases of City residents during 1955 was 50, and the survivals at the end of one month were :— Year of Birth. Survived at end of One Month. 1955. 1954. 1955. 1954. Born at Home 8 6 8 6 Born in Hospital 42 71 39 59 Born in Nursing Home ... — — — — 50 77 47 65 Special attention is given to this group of infants by the Health Visitors. Infant Welfare Clinics,—Ten infant welfare sessions were held weekly and one fortnightly in the City at nine centres. Toddler sessions, for children of 18 months to 5 years, who attended by appoint- ment were held at six centres. Romsey toddler session is held weekly ; Cherry Hinton and Auckland Road twice monthly, Chesterton once a month, and Newnham and Castle Street as required. The usual activities of weighing babies, giving advice to the mothers, and selling foods were carried on at all the centres. Proprietary brands of dried milk were sold at cost price. Accessory food substances, e.g., Cod Liver Oil Emulsion, Virol, Marmite, Calcium, Iron and Vitamin Tablets were also obtainable. In addition, the centres functioned as depots for the distribution, on behalf of the Food Office, of National Dried Milk for babies under two years of age. Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin Capsules and Orange Juice for expectant mothers and children under five. Students from Homerton College and the Cambridgeshire Technical College came periodically to the Infant Welfare Clinics for observation visits. In addition, several Health Visitor students from the College of Nursing came for a fortnight’s practical training. The number of children in attendance at the infant welfare and toddler clinics, and the number of attendances made during the year were as follows :—