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 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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trouble to design an insulated and heated conveyance for the
purpose. When it is recognised by every person called to a
mother in labour before term that to get her to hospital before
the baby is born is the optimum line of treatment, a higher
proportion of these very premature babies born at home will
be saved. This is not to say that all premature babies should be
nursed in hospital but it would secure, however, that all the
small 4 lb. and under babies avoid the dangers of transport to
hospital.
The total number of premature babies notified during the year were as follows, born:—
| (a) At home | 5 |
| (b) In hospital | 32 |
| The number of those born at home:— | |
| (a) Who were nursed entirely at home | 5 |
| (b) Who died during the first 24 hours | — |
| (c) Who survived at the end of one month | 5 |
| The number of those born in hospital:— | |
| (a) Who died during the first 24 hours | 2 |
| (b) Who survived at the end of one month | 28 |