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 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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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 during the year compared with 1939, 1945 and 1946:—
| 1939. | 1945. | 1946. | 1947. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admitted to Purley Hospital | 64 | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| ,, Redhill Hospital | 98 | 129 | 220 | 263 |
| Attended by Selsdon Midwife | 38 | 33 | 53 | 60 |
| ,, Purley | 49 | 39 | 75 | 67 |
| ,, Coulsdon Nursing Association Midwives | 96 | 85 | ||
| Supplied with Home Help | 18 | 142* | 171 | 215 |
* Including Home and Domestic help.
The only change of note in the arrangement for hospital accommodation
for maternity cases since the 1946 Report has been the reduction in
the average period during which normal maternity cases have been
retained at Purley Hospital from 14 to 10 days. This alteration was
effected towards the end of the year, and did not influence the number of
admissions to that hospital in 1947. For the last two years this change
in policy has resulted in a greater number of the local 'births taking place
at Redhill County Hospital.
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 1947 the Council's midwives attended 127 cases, of which 50
were maternity cases attended also by a doctor, while the Coulsdon
Nursing Association midwives attended 85 cases.
One other midwife was known to be registered to practise in the
District, but did not engage in much midwifery work.
Home Help Service.
The Council instituted a Home Help Service in 1920, but until 1944
assistance was limited to maternity cases.
Only one permanent Home Help was employed from 1920 to 1941,
with occasional part-time assistance. During the second half of 1945
the number employed was increased to at least 17, and it became necessary
to employ a part-time paid Organiser to relieve the Senior Health
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