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
London County Council 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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There were 402 premature infants not admitted to hospitals, of whom 25 died. The following is an analysis of these premature infants:—
| Parity | Total | Weight 3 lbs. and under | Weight over 3 lbs. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Died | Stillborn | No. | Died | Stillborn | ||
| (1) Primiparae | 115 | 7 | — | 6 | 108 | 4 | 5 |
| (2) Parity 5 and under | 257 | 19 | 8 | 10 | 238 | 10 | 16 |
| (3) Over parity 5 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 2 | 5 |
The number of district confinements undertaken by the voluntary organisations included in the Council's domiciliary midwifery scheme showed a correspondingly substantial increase compared with confinements for 1945. These numbers, together with those for 1938, were as follows:—
| Maternity nursing cases | Midwifery cases | Total | Grand total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | ||||
| Voluntary hospitals domiciliary service | 251 | 5,484 | 5,735 | |
| District nursing associations | 606 | 1,158 | 1,764 | |
| - | 7,499 | |||
| 1945 | ||||
| Voluntary hospitals domiciliary service | 53 | 3,502 | 3,555 | |
| District nursing associations | 327 | 1,584 | 1,911 | |
| - | 5,466 | |||
| 1946 | ||||
| Voluntary hospitals domiciliary service | 129 | 6,120 | 6,249 | |
| District nursing associations | 501 | 3,225 | 3,726 | |
| - | 9,975 |
Domiciliary
midwifery
service—
voluntary
organisations
Relief midwives for the Council's midwives were supplied by the voluntary
hospitals and district nursing associations at a cost of £196 15s. and £656, respectively,
during 1946.
Gas and air analgesia is administered on the district by those of the Council's
midwives who hold the analgesia certificate, approved by the Central Midwives
Board. The Minnitt's apparatus is kept at ambulance stations in different parts
of London. The midwife telephones for the apparatus, when required, and it is
delivered to her at the patient's house by ambulance. The scheme for the administration
of analgesia commenced on 1st June, 1946, and the number of administrations
up to 31st December, 1946, was 206. At the time, 50 midwives were qualified
to give it. Others are now being trained.
Gas and air
analgesia
Fourteen hospitals and 9 district nursing associations included in the Council's
domiciliary midwifery scheme offered gas and air analgesia to women, and 838
administrations were given by the former and 162 by the latter. These are for a
full year.
Training in analgesia is provided for the Council's midwives in accordance
with the rules of the Central Midwives Board, and the 15 cases to be administered
during training are taken either in hospital or on the district.
The Midwives Salaries (Rushcliffe) Committee recommended that local
authorities should provide accommodation for domiciliary midwives with a view
to (i) eliminating the difficulty experienced by new midwives in making satisfactory
living arrangements ; (ii) removing differences in rent and rates as between midwives
; and (iii) having the premises available for her successor, whenever a midwife
leaves the service. The Council has adopted this policy, and premises have been
provided from the Council's own property, on lease from private owners or through
the Borough Councils. During 1946, 39 midwives were so accommodated in 33
premises, of which 25 were provided by the Council and 8 were taken on lease,
Housing of
midwives