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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Arrangements continued in operation for the midwives using cars in
the course of their duties each to hold a machine at their respective homes
to take with them to their own cases and there are three machines stored
at the Ambulance Station for the use of the remaining midwives. With
regard to the latter, the relatives of the patient are requested to collect a
machine, where possible, but when they cannot do this, arrangements are
made for a machine to be transported from the Ambulance Station to the
house by a hired car.
The Salvation Army midwives also have two machines which are kept
at their Branch Home and taken or sent lo the home of the patient when
required.
The service is freely available to all having home confinements, provided
there are no medical contra-indicalions, and each expectant mother
on booking ihe midwife is supplied with a leaflet explaining the nature
and the availability of the service.
Ante-Natal Clinics .—The following is a summary of the attendances at the Ante-Natal Clinics during 1958 for patients booked for confinement in hospital: —
| Maternity Hospital Doctors Midwives | Mayesbrook Clinic | Manford Way Clinic | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First attendances | 945 | — | 279 | 113 |
| Subsequent attendances | 5,666 | 3,686 | 2,523 | 1,040 |
| Totals | 6,611 | 3,686 | 2,802 | 1,153 |
| Number of sessions | 310 | 254* | 129 | 59 |
| Average attendance at each session | 21 | 14 | 22 | 19 |
| *Includes 206 running concurrently with Doctors' Clinics. | ||||
All patients bocked for admission to the Maternity Hospital are
medically examined at the Ante-Natal Clinics. The first examination takes
place at the 10th week of pregnancy, or as soon as possible after that
time if the booking for hospital admission is not made until after the 10th
week. Further, arrangements are made for all hospital booked patients to
see the Obstetric Registrar at either the Ilford Maternity Hospital or the
Mayesbrook Ante-Natal Clinic at about the 35th week of pregnancy.
In conjunction with the Ante-Natal Clinics at the Manford Way and
Mayesbrook Clinics the Health Visitors hold classes for relaxation exercises.
During 1958 there were 103 sessions at the Mayesbrook Clinic, with
1,160 attendances, and 101 sessions at Manford Way Clinic, with 735
attendances. A weekly session is also run by Health Visitors at Valentines
Mansion, 43 sessions being held in the year, with 273 attendances.
Relaxation exercises classes are in addition held by the staff of the
Ilford Maternity Hospital for patients attending the Ante-Natal Clinic there.
Post-Natal Clinics.— All patients confined in the Ilford Maternity
Hospital and other patients on request are invited to attend the Post-Natal
Clinics for the first time approximately six weeks after confinement.