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
Merton and Morden 1943
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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Midwives. One midwife is appointed by the District
Council under the Surrey County Council's scheme for a salaried
midwifery service. The fees fixed by the County Council are:—
As maternity nurse 35/-
As midwife 40/-
Provision is made for a reduction in the fee in necessitous cases.
The following figures indicate the work undertaken during the year by the Council's midwife:—
| Cases conducted: | Primip. | Multip. | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) As midwife | Live | 8 | 28 | 36 |
| Still | — | 1 | 1 | |
| (b) As maternity nurse | Live | 8 | 7 | 15 |
| Still | — | — | — | |
| 16 | 36 | 52 | ||
| Visits made: | ||||
| By midwife | Ante-natal | 388 | ||
| During confinement | 730 | |||
| To midwife | Ante-natal | 129 | ||
| Post-natal | 142 | |||
| 1,389 | ||||
| Medical Aid Forms sent:—10. Reasons for sending:— | ||||
| Discharging Eyes | 4 | |||
| Rupture of Perineum | 3 | |||
| Laceration of Perineum | 1 | |||
| Prolonged second stage | 1 | |||
| Macerated foetus | 1 | |||
| Percentage of total midwife's cases which attended the Council's ante-natal clinics 100% | ||||
According to notices received by the Surrey County
Council there were eighteen midwives practising in the district,
four of whom were salaried midwives appointed under the
County Scheme, and eight members of the staff of the Nelson
Hospital. In addition one member of the staff of the
Wimbledon District Nursing Association practices part-time
in the Merton and Morden area.
Voluntary Helpers. It is the fashion, and properly so, to
issue appropriate markings for length of service. The Civil
Defence workers, for example wear a chevron for each year
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