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
Erith 1941
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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B(4). Home Visits by Health Visitors.
| 1941 | Children | Special Visits | Expectant Mothers | Infant Life Protection | Total Visits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Visits | Re-Visits | Still-Births | Others | ||||
| January | 41 | 450 | — | 27 | 11 | 2 | 531 |
| February | 29 | 606 | 1 | 47 | 15 | 1 | 699 |
| March | 44 | 694 | — | 27 | 16 | 2 | 783 |
| April | 37 | 626 | 3 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 702 |
| May | 42 | 730 | — | 13 | 15 | 1 | 801 |
| June | 28 | 644 | 1 | 10 | 21 | 6 | 710 |
| July | 55 | 1035 | 1 | 22 | 23 | 5 | 1141 |
| August | 53 | 790 | 2 | 11 | 20 | 6 | 882 |
| September | 43 | 1092 | 1 | 29 | 45 | 6 | 1216 |
| October | 62 | 1114 | — | 27 | 19 | 7 | 1229 |
| November | 51 | 877 | — | 23 | 61 | 8 | 1020 |
| December | 50 | 964 | 3 | 35 | 50 | 8 | 1110 |
| Total Visits | 535 | 9622 | 12 | 292 | 309 | 54 | 10824 |
B (5). MATERNITY SERVICES.
B(5)a. Maternity Home—Hainault.
The Council provides a maternity home the accommodation
of which this year has been increased by the addition of a
two-bedded ward to a total of 9 beds, including one isolation
bed. The staff consists of a Sister-in-Charge, a Junior Sister,
a Staff nurse midwife and two midwives. Institutional treatment
for normal cases is provided, and during the period
under review 143 maternity cases were admitted. Of tlhese
100 cases were delivered by midwives and 43 by doctors. The
average duration of stay of these cases in the home was 13 days.
The following table illustrates the admissions during the last five years to the Hainault Maternity Home.
| Year | Admissions |
|---|---|
| 1937 | 134 |
| 1938 | 116 |
| 1939 | 118 |
| 1940 | 118 |
| 1941 | 143 |
B(5)b. Ante-natal.
The ante-natal sessions held on one half-day each week at
the Bedonwell Clinic continue to function satisfactorily.
With regard to ante-natal clinics generally, it was felt that
during the present urgent industrial activity some facilities
should be given for the attendance of expectant mothers while