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 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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45
The Borough Council pays a subsidy to certain hospitals for the admission of cases to
their maternity wards, and also pays a subsidy for cases attended at home by midwives on the
staff of certain institutions. No subsidy is paid for cases attended by medical students.
The following table gives the names of the hospitals, etc., and the amount paid during the past year:—
| . . | £ | s. | d. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Free Hospital | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Queen Charlotte's Hospital | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| City of London Hospital | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Middlesex Hospital | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| University College Hospital | 125 | 10 | 0 |
| Maternity Nursing Association | — | ||
| Total | £215 | 10 | 0 |
The corresponding grants for the previous three years were: £2.38, £243 5s. 0d., and
£234 15s. 0d.
Maternal Mortality.
This subject has lately been receiving considerable attention. The situation is,
unfortunately, complicated, as the Ministry of Health, the Registrar-General, and the majority
of Public Health Officials, taken as a body, do not always agree over definitions and
classifications of these deaths.
Deaths of women during pregnancy or childbirth are classified into two groups. The
first and main division is reserved for those cases where death is directly due to the Puerperal
state. Each authority has its own title for this collection, but it is not always used with
the same intention. The resulting differences of opinion are sufficiently numerous to render
the annual statistics of doubtful value. Until they are rectified we can place little value upon
local statistics, more especially considering that they are based upon such a small number
of cases.
Deaths which are only associated with pregnancy or childbirth, not directly due to
either, are collected for the second large group. They are all classified primarily to their
particular cause of death and then re-grouped as Non-Puerperal Maternal Deaths. These do
not include any cases following criminal interference.
In 1931 there were 7 Puerperal and 5 Non-Puerperal Maternal deaths in the Borough.
In addition, there were 3 deaths following abortions, 2 criminal and I violence with an open
verdict, which are not included in the returns for Maternal deaths. Of the 7 Puerperal
Maternal deaths, 2 were due to Sepsis, 1 to Hyperemesis Gravidarum following an abortion, 1
to Inversion of Uterus, 1 to accidental Haemorrhage, 1 to Placenta Praavia leading to
Haemorrhage, 1 to Post Partum Haemorrhage. The 5 Non-Puerperal Maternal deaths were
attributed, 1 each, to Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Broncho-Pneumonia, Atrophy of Liver,Valvular
Disease of the Heart and Influenza.