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
Battersea 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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Maternal Deaths in Child-birth and Maternal Mortality Rate per 1,000 Births(Live and Still).
| Year. | Puerperal Sepsis. | Other Causes. | Total. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Rate. | No. | Rate. | No. | Rate. | |
| 1929 | 2 | 0.74 | 3 | 1.10 | 5 | 1.84 |
| 1930 | 4 | 1.45 | 6 | 2.18 | 10 | 3.63 |
| 1931 | 5 | 1.97 | 10 | 3.93 | 15 | 5-90 |
| 1932 | 2 | 0.83 | 2 | 0.84 | 4 | 1.67 |
| 1933 | 4 | 1.72 | 1 | 0.43 | 5 | 2.15 |
| Mean,1929-33 | 3.4 | 1.34 | 4.4 | 1.70 | 7.8 | 3.04 |
| 1934 | 3 | 1.35 | 4 | 1.80 | 7 | 3.15 |
From the above table it will be noted that there was a slight
increase in maternal mortality in the borough as compared with the
previous year. Following the usual procedure, and in accordance
with the instructions of the Ministry of Health, each of the 7 deaths
of Battersea mothers was fully investigated, and reports submitted
to the Ministry.
The Council has made free provision under its Maternity and
Child Welfare scheme for the ante-natal examination of expectant
mothers. Doctors and practising midwives are invited to refer
expectant mothers for examination and report by the Consultant
Specialist who attends the ante-natal clinics on three days weekly,
but up to the present they have failed to avail themselves of the
facilities provided by the Council for this purpose to any extent.
In this connection the Council decided to compensate any practising
midwife who suffers loss of fees owing to her patient(having been
referred by her to the Council's ante-natal clinic) entering hospital
for her confinement on the advice of the medical officer of the
clinic. This subject is more fully referred to on page 26.
Arrangements have also been made on the lines suggested by
the Ministry to place at the disposal of medical practitioners practising
in Battersea, specialist advice in difficult maternity cases.
BOROUGH MATERNITY HOSPITAL.
The Borough Maternity Hospital is situate at 19 and 20
Bolingbroke Grove, overlooking Wandsworth Common. It was
established soon after the war, and was opened for the reception of
maternity cases in February, 1921. Accommodation is provided
for 30 patients at one time. The Hospital is also a recognised