[Report 1939] / Medical Officer of Health, Nottingham City.

Nottingham (England). City Council.

Date:: 1939

Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1939] / Medical Officer of Health, Nottingham City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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sign and suggests the effects of improved organisation of health measures. The advice of our clinic doctors and health visitors is having its effect. The factors which increase the safety of child-bearing also favourably affect the outlook for the newly-born child. The war caused considerable alterations in the depart¬ mental routine. For instance, our staffs took over the distribution of infant helmet respirators on behalf of the A.K.P. services, as these cannot be used without previous instruction of mothers. Nearly 7,000 demonstrations were arranged and given in October 1939. Dr. Harkness and some of her staff were also very busy for a time helping the Evacuation Officer (Mr. J. Boydell) in connection with the evacuation of pregnant women to other areas. Help was also given to the School Medical staff in dealing with children of school age who were being evacuated. Our Homes for Unmarried Mothers were also evacuated to Mansfield, but this was a failure and, in due course, the process was reversed. During the winter the entire programme of clinics had to be altered so as to continue the sessions over midday and get the buildings clear before black-out time. Naturally all these special but necessary duties inter¬ fered with normal working, especially as some of the Health Visitors were called up to nursing services to which they had commitments.