London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Lambeth 1933

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth Borough]

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33
Stringent care has been exercised since to prevent further outbreaks
and more especially by insisting upon the use of masks by
every member of the nursing staff while engaged in attending
women during confinement and throughout the puerperium,
whenever nursing duties permit the possibility of direct droplet
infection from an infective pharynx to the vulva. The mask found
most convenient consists of a rectangular linen pocket enclosing
a stiff piece of grease-proof paper (easily removable) with tapes
at each corner and arranged to cover both nose and mouth.
During the year 409 cases were admitted to the Home excluding
the 15 cases sent to the municipal hospitals. Since its inception
in 1926, 2,883 women have been admitted to the Home with only
two fatalities, which is a striking tribute both to the Home and to
the value of the ante-natal work carried out at the voluntary welfare
centres.

Applications dealt with during 1933.

Welfare CentreApplications receivedApplications withdrawn, refused or cancelled
North Marsh3
Babies Care...51
Moffat Institute3
North Brixton (Belgrave Hospital)294
Stockwell868
Brixton1379
Loughborough Junction796
Norwood1569
Total49837

The Committee of Management of the Lambeth Council's Maternity
Home includes four co-opted members, each representing
the Voluntary Welfare Committees in one of the four Parliamentary
Divisions of the Borough. The Management Committee is
much strengthened by the inclusion of these four ladies who
are in a position to explain at first hand the various points of
view of the Welfare Centres which they represent. The success
of the Council's Home is largely due to the ungrudging pains
with which they have worked on behalf of the Lambeth Scheme
in co-ordinating the work of the voluntary centres with that of
the Council. In the assessment of the capacity of applicants for
c