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
St Pancras 1914
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, London, Borough of]
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35
II.—The Assistance of Mothers at and about the time of
their Accouchement.
The number of births attended gratuitously during 1913 and 1914 in the homes of the patients was as-follows:—
| 1913. | 1914. | |
|---|---|---|
| * New Hospital for Women (doctors) | 113 | 135 |
| University College Hospital (medical students) | 999 | 1143 |
| Do. do. (midwives) | 235 | 262 |
| Middlesex Hospital (medical students) | 124 | 163 |
| Royal Free Hospital (medical students) | 54 | 57 |
| St. Bartholomew's Hospital (medical students) | 7 | 10 |
| * Maternity Nursing Association, Myddleton Square and Oakley Square (midwives) | 88 | 111 |
| 1620 | 1881 |
(or one-third of the total number of births).
* (In some of these cases the women were charged reduced fees.)
The number of St. Pancras births notified as occurring in institutions during 1913 and 1914 (exclusively of the St. Pancras House—formerly the Workhouse,— where there were 87 births in 1913, and 77 in 1914), were as follows: —
| 1913. | 1914. | |
|---|---|---|
| University College Hospital | 117 | 141 |
| Middlesex Hospital | 127 | 137 |
| Queen Charlotte's Lying-in Hospital | 184 | 189 |
| City of London Do. | 51 | 80 |
| British Do. (Endell Street) (Closed in May, 1913) | 38 | |
| Other hospitals | 17 | 19 |
| 534 | 566 |
(or over one-tenth of the total number of births).
There is no doubt that in St. Pancras many births take place in rooms
and houses and under conditions which are quite unsuitable; and that a
greater use of hospitals for the purpose is desirable. There is not at present,,
however, any great demand for further provision in this direction, and no
immediate action in regard to it was suggested in the report of the Medical
Officer of Health referred to above. It is probable, however, partly as a
result of the establishment of maternity centres, that such a demand will'
arise. It may be mentioned that the Royal Free Hospital are at present
arranging for beds to be provided for this purpose.