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
Coulsdon and Purley 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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The following table compares the 1946 figures with those of 1945:—
| 1945. | 1946. | |
|---|---|---|
| New ante-natal cases | 391 | 576 |
| Percentage of registered births | 52% | 54% |
| Post-natal attendances | 210 | 242 |
| Number of sessions | 120 | 120 |
| Average attending per session | 22 | 20.1 |
It will be seen that the proportion of Ante-natal mothers attending
the clinics, which was 33 per cent. in 1939, still tends to increase, probably
owing in part to many hoping institutional confinements will result.
The proportion of mothers attending for post-natal examination is
still regrettably small and shows no tendency to increase. Much physical
inconvenience or ill health could be avoided by the greater use of the
facilities provided.
Maternity Cases.
The following table presents concisely the position regarding institutional confinements and those attended by the Council's midwives or the Coulsdon Nursing Association, comparing 1939, 1945 and 1946.
| 1939. | 1945. | 1946. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admitted to Purley Hospital | 64 | 72 | 72 |
| ,, Redhill Hospital | 98 | 129 | 220 |
| Attended by Selsdon Midwife | 38 | 33 | 53 |
| ,, ,, Purley ,, | 49 | 39 | 75 |
| ,, ,, Coulsdon Nursing Association Mid-wives | 96 | ||
| Supplied with Home Help | 18 | 142* | 171 |
* Including Home and Domestic help.
Midwifery Service.
The Council, acting as agents for the Surrey County Council, appointed
two midwives in December, 1937, to serve the Sanderstead/Selsdon and
Purley/Kenley areas. In addition, the Coulsdon District Nursing Association
has, for several years, employed two midwives to attend confinements
in the homes of residents in the Coulsdon area.
In 1946 the Council's midwives attended 128 cases, of which at
least 49 were maternity cases attended also by a Doctor, while the
Coulsdon Nursing Association midwives attended 96 cases, of which 40
were maternity cases.
Only 2 other midwives were known to be registered to practise in
the District, but neither engaged in much actual midwifery work.
Hospital Accommodation for Maternity Cases.
The only change of note since the 1945 Report has been the reduction
in the average number of days during which normal maternity cases have
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