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
Ilford 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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There were 4 deaths of infants during the first year of life where the
birth had been attended by a Domiciliary Midwife; one of these occurred
during the first two weeks of life.
Notices were received from the Domiciliary Midwives stating that
artificial feeding had been substituted in respect of 30 infants attended by
them during 1958.
During 1958 Ante-Natal Clinics conducted by the Domiciliary Midwives
were held weekly at Valentines Mansion and fortnightly at Maves-
brook Clinic and Manford Way Clinic. The following is a summary of the attendances at these Clinics during the year: —
| Valentines Clinic | Mayesbrook Clinic | Manford Way Clinic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First attendances | 384 | 132 | 81 |
| Subsequent attendances | 973 | 369 | 307 |
| Totals | 1,357 | 501 | 388 |
| Number of sessions | 48 | 24 | 26 |
| Average attendance at each session | 28 | 21 | 15 |
| In addition 2,047 home ante-natal visits were made during the year. | |||
The scheme continues whereby the doctor and the midwife have a
consultation about their patient on three occasions (at specified intervals)
during the pregnancy. The examinations take place at the patient's home,
the doctor's surgery or at the Local Health Authority's Clinic, as mutually
agreed, but in practice the joint consultation is held in the majority of
cases in the doctor's surgery.
The llford Borough Council continued to provide housing accommodation,
where necessary, for midwives employed in the service of the
llford Health Area Sub-Committee. At the 31st December, 1958, one
maisonette and one flat were being rented by the County Council from
the Borough Council under this arrangement.
Salivation Army Midwifery Service.— One Salvation Army midwife, with
a further midwife assisting her as required, served in llford during the year
and in view of the shortage of County Council midwives the governing body,
the Mothers' Hospital, Clapton, agreed to their undertaking certain cases
outside their normal area, to relieve the position to a degree. 95 cases
were attended by her, 93 as a midwife and 2 as a maternity nurse. A
Doctor was called in to 15 of these cases.
Of the infants born there were 2 stillbirths.
Notifications were received from the Salvation Army Midwife that it
was proposed to substitute artificial feeding in respect of 19 infants.
Gas and Air Analgesia.— During 1958 gas and air analgesia was
administered in 463 cases, of which 373 were attended by the Domiciliary
Midwives (348 when acting as midwives and 25 when acting as maternity
nurses) and 90 were attended by the Salvation Army midwives (88 when
actng as midwives and 2 as maternity nurses).
All the domiciliary midwives employed at the end of the year were
qualified to administer gas and air analgesia and both the Salvation Army
midwives were also so qualified.