[Report 1935] / Medical Officer of Health, South Shields County Borough.

  • South Shields (Durham, England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1935
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1935] / Medical Officer of Health, South Shields County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    105/112 (page 103)
    Ophthalmia Neonatorum. Ten cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were notified during the year. In addition, there were 21 other notifications of ‘‘discharging eyes ’ ’ notified by midwives, but these were not subsequently notified as ophthalmia neonatorum. One of the cases of ophthalmia subsequently developed some impairment of vision. This was the case in which the midwife delayed in calling medical assistance, and was the subject of enquiry by the Central Mid wives Board. Home Nursing. Eleven cases, including five ophthalmia neonatorum, four puerperal pyrexia, and two cases of measles, were nursed at home by the nurses of the South Shields and District Nursing Association at the cost of the Council. Infant Life Protection. During the year the name of one child was added to the register. There are now the names of six children on the register in six homes. The health visitors paid 26 visits to the homes of the children during the year. Convalescent Home. 22 children were admitted to the Convalescent Home at Cleadon during the year at the cost ot the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee. All were under five years of age. In all, 2,353 in¬ patient days were spent in the home, or approximately an average of six children were in the home daily. 18 were discharged, most of whom remained in the home for comparatively long periods. The average duration of stay was 74 days. A few children remained for short periods only. They either could not settle in their new surroundings or the parents would not allow them to remain. There has been some difficulty in persuading parents to allow their children to go to the home ,but every child who remained a reason¬ able time benefited greatly in health. Ultra Violet Ray Treatment. 33 patients under 5 years of age, including 19 new cases, made 881 attendances at Harton Hospital for exposure to the Ultra Violet rays. The majority were suffering from rickets. A number of children under five years were also sent by the Tuberculosis Officer for treatment for non-pulmonary tuberculous conditions.