London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hornsey 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornsey, Borough of]
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The North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board has continued
to provide consultant obstetricians at the Tottenham clinics
and, as from 2nd December, 1953, appointed Miss Margaret Salmond,
M.B.E., M.D., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.O.G., to undertake two sessions a week
at the Park Lane Medical Centre.
Midwives Ante-natal Clinics
At the beginning of the year a separate midwife's clinic was started
at the Mildura Court Centre, and the following table shows the
attendances made at all clinics during the year:—
TABLE 1A
| Midwives' Clinics | No. of sessions held | No. of new cases | Total No. of attendances | Average attendance per session |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burgoyne Road | 42 | 2 | 163 | 3.9 |
| Fortis Green | 43 | 4 | 189 | 4.4 |
| Mildura Court | 47 | 1 | 168 | 3.6 |
| Stroud Green | 49 | 4 | 260 | 5.3 |
| Park Lane | 153 | 1,243 | 8.1 | |
| Totals | 334 | 11 | 2,023 | 6.1 |
Blood Tests
At three of the ante-natal clinics the mothers attending have their
blood tested for haemoglobin as anaemia in an expectant mother is a
serious disability for both mother and child. The mother is tested on
her first yisit and thereafter as often as may be required. In this way
the state of her blood is kept under review and where iron deficiency
is found, iron in the most suitable form for the patient is given.
During the year the following results were obtained:—
| Centre | No. of women attended | No. of tests made | Results obtained | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage Haemoglobin | Percentage of women attended | |||
| Church Road | 195 | 276 | 90-100 | 1.5 |
| The Chestnuts | 509 | 1,377 | 85- 90 | 13.0 |
| Lordship Lane | 346 | 968 | 75- 85 | 70.0 |
| 60- 75 | 14.0 | |||
| Totals | 1,050 | 2,621 | 50- 60 | 1.5 |
In addition to haemoglobin estimation all expectant mothers
attending ante-natal clinics have a specimen of blood taken for
Wasserman reaction, blood grouping and determination of Rhesus
factor.
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