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
Camberwell 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell.
This page requires JavaScript
23
The necessity therefore for this Authority to continue to make
provision for maternity patients does not claim the same consideration
to-day as in the past, as in addition to the number of beds
available at the L.C.C. hospitals in this Borough and King's College
Hospital, there are also other maternity and general hospitals
within easy distance of Camberwell.
During the year 1933 the number of forms of application
received for a bed in this Authority's Maternity Wards was 403.
The number of patients confined in the wards was 286. Of this
number 158 were first confinements, 28 gave medical reasons for
admission, and in 100 instances the housing conditions were unsatisfactory
for the confinement to take place at home.
Under the terms of the agreement this Authority is required
to pay the sum of nine shillings per day for each occupied bed.
I am indebted to the Medical Superintendent of St. Giles'
Hospital for the following review of the Municipal Maternity Ward
Scheme for the year:—
MUNICIPAL MATERNITY WARDS, 1933.
| Number of patients delivered | 286 |
| Number of infants born, including 3 sets of twins | 289 |
| Number of infants born, before admission (in ambulance) | 1 |
| Number of maternal deaths | 4 |
| Number of infantile deaths | 2 |
| Number of stillbirths | 9 |
| Number of ante-natal attendances | 1,864 |
| Abnormalities requiring treatment— | |
| Albuminuria and high blood pressure— | |
| (a) Admitted to medical wards 3 | 10 |
| (b) Treated at ante-natal clinic 7 | |
| Carbuncle—warded | 1 |
| Severe varicose veins—warded | 1 |
| Marked œdema of leg—warded | 1 |
| Infected cystocele—warded | 1 |
| Thrombophlebitis—warded | 1 |
| Antepartum haemorrhage—warded | 4 |
| Antepartum haemorrhage and cystocele—warded | 1 |
| Pulmonary tuberculosis—sent to sanatorium | 1 |
| Fibroid—seen by specialist | 1 |
| Hydramnios—warded | 1 |
| Influenza | 1 |
| Mitral stenosis—warded | 2 |
| Pyelitis—warded | 3 |
All patients attending the ante-natal clinic have their blood examined by
the Wassermann and Kahn tests.
Positive in mother } { 1
Positive in baby }Sent to King's College Hospital for treatment { 1
External versions under general anaesthetic 3
Admitted for induction of premature labour 6
Labour—
Normal labour 256
All patients offered light anaesthesia, and practically all accepted.