London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lewisham 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
Clinics for Expectant Mothers.
The Central Clinic is held at the Maternity Home, on Monday Tuesday and Thursday mornings in each week.
Particulars of the Clinics for the year 1933 are as follows:—
| Number of Sessions held | 147 |
| Number of Patients examined | 640 |
| Number of Attendances made by all Patients | 3,708 |
| Number of Primigravidæ examined | 316 |
| Number of Multigravidæ examined | 307 |
| Number who were found to be not pregnant | 17 |
| Number of normal labours | 412 |
| Number of abnormal labours | 35 |
| Number undelivered at the end of 1933 | 164 |
| Number removed from the district | 12 |
| Number sent by the Maternity Home | 480 |
| N umber sent by Mid wives | 97 |
| Number sent by Doctors and Institutions | 7 |
| Number who came on their own initiative | 37 |
| Number who came at the suggestion of a Health Visitor | 19 |
The 35 Labours that ended abnormally are classified as follows:—
| Transverse | 1 | Premature Birth | 3 |
| Face | 3 | Premature Birth (still-born) | 1 |
| Breech | 9 | Still-births | 4 |
| Forceps | 6 | Ante-Partum Hemorrhage | 1 |
| Induction and Sterilization | 1 | Post | 2 |
| Miscarriage | 3 | Manual Removal of Placenta | 1 |
Downham Ante-Natal Clinic.—This branch Clinic is held at the
Downham Health Centre on one morning each week. During the
year 97 women attended, the total attendances amounting to 355.
X-Ray Examinations.—During the year an arrangement was
made with St. John's Hospital whereby abnormal and complicated
cases of pregnancy attending the Ante-Natal Clinics can be X-rayed,
with a view to suitable treatment being given in time.
Post-Natal Clinic.—A Post-natal Clinic was commenced in the
latter part of the year, so that women who had attended the Antenatal
Clinic could attend for a medical examination about six weeks
after the confinement. This Clinic has been remarkably well
attended, a fact that is most gratifying as it leads one to believe
that the mothers are alive to the importance of being sure that their
recovery has been complete and satisfactory.