Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell annual (abridged) report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1944.

  • Camberwell (London, England). Metropolitan Borough.
Date:
[1945]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell annual (abridged) report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1944. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Every endeavour was made to add to the number of persons on the panel available for these services to meet the requirements of this extension of the Scheme, but without success. Consequently it has not been possible to implement the Council's desire to extend the Service in the manner indicated. Indeed, it frequently happens that the demands of the expectant mothers cannot be met in view of the small number of Home Helps available to undertake the duties of these appointments. The problem of the illegitimate child also received attention by the Council and a Scheme was adopted embodying the recommendations submitted by the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee to the Constituent Councils in the interest of uniformity of practice throughout the Metropolis. The principal features of the Scheme are guaranteed payments by the local authority to Poster Mothers for their services and closer co-operation between the Moral Welfare Worker of the Southwark Diocesan Association and the Public Health Department in all matters affecting the mother and her illegitimate child. The Ministry of Health Circular on the care of Premature Infants was also reviewed and instructions were given for the weight of the baby at birth to be included in future in the particulars required to be furnished by a person giving notice of the birth of a child and for arrangements to be made as far as possible for the admission of selected cases to hospital. Close co-operation exists between the Maternity Units of the various hospitals receiving Camberwell mothers for confinement and the Public Health Department. On leaving hospital, these infants are closely followed up by the Health Visitors, Two of the twelve War-time Nurseries in the Borough were irreparably damaged by flying bombs during the year and a Rest Centre Nursery was temporarily closed as a result of enemy action damage. The Nurseries destroyed received children in the 0-5 years of age group. A deputy matron and nursery nurse were loaned for temporary service at Nurseries outside London in view of the exodus of mothers and children from the Borough during Fly-bombing. The nursing staff of the War-time Nurseries were examined at the Tuberculosis Dispensary in accordance with the suggestions made by the Ministry of Health in their Circular 111/44. Miss K. Harris, a temporary Health Visitor was at the request of the Ministry of Health loaned to supplement the health visiting staff at Northampton. In conclusion I wish to thank the members of the Cornell and the Chairmen of the Standing Committees for their continued support and encouragement and the staff of the Public Health Department for their loyal co-operation throughout the year. I am, your obedient servant, H. W. BARNES. MEDICAL OFFICER OP HEALTH. 2