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
Enfield 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]
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NOTIFICATIONS
In accordance with the rules of the Central Midwives Board, the following notifications were received: —
| 1945 | 1944 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sending for Medical Aid | 158 | 159 |
| Still Births | 3 | 4 |
| Laying out of the dead | — | - |
| Artificial feeding | 12 | 31 |
| Liability to be a source of infection | 3 | 8 |
| Notification of death | 2 | 3 |
The notifications in connection with Medical Aid can be classified as follows: —
| During Pregnancy | 24 |
| During Labour | 94 |
| During Lying-in Period | 15 |
| Infant | 25 |
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN RESPECT OF
MIDWIFERY FEES
Financial assistance was given in 206 cases. This compares
with 214 in 1944, and 164 in 1943.
OBSTETRIC SPECIALIST
The scheme whereby the General Practitioners of the district
may call in the help of the Obstetric Unit at the North Middlesex
County Hospital in cases of difficulty during the ante-natal period
or at the confinement, continued throughout the year.
On only one occasion was the Unit called and a successful
blood transfusion was given.
HOME HELPS
Despite repeated efforts during the year it was still impossible
to obtain women for this type of work.
BIRTH CONTROL
In accordance with the authority given by the Minister of
Health, your Medical Officers continued to give advice on this
subject to those mothers attending the Maternity and Child Welfare
Centres, for whom further pregnancy would be detrimental to health.
CIRCULATION OF BOOKLET ON REARING OF CHILDREN
The booklet on child welfare called "To Mothers and Fathers"
was circulated to all mothers who were to be attended at their confinement
by one of the Council's Midwives, either as a midwife
or maternity nurse, and to all those who were to be admitted to the
North Middlesex County Hospital for their confinement, and also
to those other mothers whose confinements were notified.