[Report 1956] / Medical Officer of Health, Leeds City.

  • Leeds City Council
Date:
1956
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1956] / Medical Officer of Health, Leeds City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    centres was 9,000. These figures show a decrease of 112 in the number of children attending compared with those for 1955. This would seem to indicate that the number of children attending the infant clinics who required to be referred for sunlight therapy is still decreasing. Remedial Exercises.—A total of 374 children attended for exer¬ cises with 3,550 attendances, a decrease of 32 in the number of children compared with 1955. Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Classes.—These exercise classes for expectant and nursing mothers were held at 14 welfare centres. The value of these classes and of the explanatory talks given by the physiotherapist is much appreciated by the mothers who attend. There were 384 mothers who attended ante-natal classes and 14 attended for post-natal exercises. The total number of attendances was 1,858 and 57 respectively. Eye Defects.—-Children classified as blind or partially blind.-— There were 7 children under five years on the register on 31st December, 1955. There were no children notified as blind during 1956; 3 children reached the age of 5 years, leaving 4 names on the register on 31st December, 1956. Of these, 1 child remained in a Sunshine Home, and 3 children found also to be mentally retarded, remained under the care of the Mental Health Department. The arrangement has continued for any child under 5 years attending the infant welfare clinics who is found to have a squint or other eye defect, to be referred to the ophthalmic consultant at the school clinic, thus providing continuity of supervision and treatment for such cases. During 1956 the number of children seen by the consultant for the first time was 192 ; in addition, 534 children re¬ attended for further consultation, making a total of 726 children examined. This is an increase of 79 on the number seen in 1955. Care of Premature Infants.—Between 1st January, 1956, and 31st December, 1956, there were 656 live births notified of infants weighing 5J lbs. or less at birth. Of these, 526 were born in hospital or nursing home in the city, and 130 were born at home. The number of those born at home who were removed to hospital was 42 and the remaining 88 were nursed at home. The number of infants who died within 24 hours of birth was 84 ; of these, 10 were born at home and 74 in hospital or nursing home.