London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Bermondsey 1937

Report on the sanitary condition of the Borough of Bermondsey for the year 1937

This page requires JavaScript

"3. Emergency Help.
"The Circular suggests that an emergency unit, consisting
of a consultant obstetrician and a nurse with all necessary equipment,
should be available for attendance at short notice at the
home of any patient. I do not think that this service is likely
be greatly used in this borough because of the close proximity
of the two hospitals, Guy's and St. Olave's. At the same time it
is, in my opinion, an excellent suggestion, even if it were the
means of saving only a single life. I think it should be possible
to arrive at an arrangement with the authorities at Guy's Hospital
or with the London County Council at St. Olave's or with
both bodies, so that such a unit should always be available, and I
suggest that the Committee consider this possibility.
"4. Maternal Accommodation.
"This is provided both at Guy's and at St. Olave's Hospitals
and the borough is well off in this respect. The Circular suggests
that in-patient accommodation should be available for Ante-Natal
cases, and as this has already been provided, and is quite frequently
used, I have no comment to make.
"5. Ante-Natal Services.
"So far as I am able to judge our Ante-Natal services are
adequate and work in close touch both with general practitioners
and midwives. In addition the Council employs an expert
obstetrician and gynaecologist who attends for two sessions a
week, to whom suitable difficult cases can be and are referred.
"6. Post-Natal Services.
"Under this heading it is suggested that arrangements should
be made for holding post-natal sessions at every Ante-Natal
Clinic, and the Circular goes on to say that 'no effort should be
spared to persuade the women who attend at the Ante-Natal
Clinic to return after confinement for medical examination.' It is
also suggested that minor ailments associated with or following
confinement might be treated and advice on contraception given
where such is indicated. So far as we are concerned in this
borough such facilities are available for every mother, and it has
been the habit in the past to arrange for every mother to be examined
where this has been suggested by the mother or appears to