London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Heston and Isleworth 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
This page requires JavaScript
Gynaecological Cases. Total 17.
Amenorrhoea 12
Abdominal pain 1
Hypomenorrhoea 1
Sterility 3
Two of these cases were referred to Hospital for further treatment.
KENNETH BOWES, M.D., M.S., F.R.C.S.
The following are the figures of attendances at the Ante-Natal Clinic :—
| 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attendances by Expectant Mothers during the year | 831 | 1208 | 1251 | 2582 |
| Average attendance per session | 14.0 | 11.5 | 12.1 | 19.3 |
| Number of Sessions | 59 | 105 | 103 | 134 |
| Number of Mothers attending Ante-Natal Clinic shown as a percentage of total notified live and stillbirths | 31.8 | 32.8 | 31.2 | 54.57 |
| Total number of expectant Mothers who attended the Clinic during the year | 419 | 464 | 444 | 794 |
There were in addition 31 Post-Natal Cases, who made 72 attendances.
MIDWIVES ACTS.
Municipal Domiciliary Service of Midwives.
In March, 1937, the Minister of Health intimated that he had decided to comply with the
application of the Borough Council for an order to be made under Section 62 of the Local
Government Act, 1929, directing that the Council should become the Local Supervising Authority
under the Midwives Acts for the Borough in place of the County Council. The order came into
operation on the 1st April, 1937.
Until such time as a Supervisor of Midwives could be appointed, Dr. E. L. Roberts, the
Deputy Medical Officer of Health was appointed to supervise the midwives practising within the
Borough.
In the special circumstances the Minister of Health deferred the date upon which the
proposals were to come into operation, from 30th July, 1937, to 1st October, 1937.
The draft scheme for the Municipal Domiciliary Service of Midwives was prepared and
discussed with representatives of the local Medical Practitioners and Midwives. The two local
Nursing Associations were also consulted.
The proposals were submitted to the Minister of Health and received his approval on the
12th August, 1937.
Summary of proposals.
1. That eight midwives be employed at the inception of the scheme.
2. That the salary of a midwife who is also a State Registered Nurse be £200 per annum,
rising by annual increments of £10 to a maximum of £300 per annum, and, for a midwife who
is not a State Registered Nurse, £180 per annum rising by annual increments of £10 to a maximum
of £250 per annum. The commencing salary for experienced midwives who are not State
Registered Nurses to be £200.
That an additional payment of £10 per annum be made to those midwives holding and
obtaining the Midwife-Teachers' Certificate of the Central Midwives Board.
3. That the following allowances be made to midwives:—
(a) A bicycle be provided by the Borough Council.
(b) A telephone be provided at the expense of the Borough Council in the house of
each midwife appointed, and that all local calls in excess of fifty per quarter, and
trunk and toll calls be paid for by the midwife quarterly.
54