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Resuscitation of Infants
A new small portable apparatus—the Blease Samson Neo-natal resuscitator has
been specially designed to ventilate the lungs of a newly born baby with safety. It
can be used with air or oxygen on babies who are not breathing well at birth. Six
of these were purchased and distributed to selected midwives but fortunately, the
necessity to use them has only occurred once.
Analgesia in Labour
Every midwife is qualified to give inhalation analgesia in childbirth. The majority
of midwives are using the Teccota, Mark V apparatus for administering Trilene.
A new machine called the Entonox giving a 50/50 mixture of nitrous oxide and
oxygen from a single cylinder in which the gases have been pre-mixed has been approved
as safe by the Medical Research Council and the Central Midwives Board.
Three of these machines were purchased when additional equipment was required
in April. Pethidine, which is administered by intra-muscular injection is available
either alone or in addition to inhalation analgesia.
Maternal Deaths
4 maternal deaths occurred in 1966. These were investigated jointly by the Medical
Officer of Health and a Consultant Obstetrician under the procedure laid down
by the Ministry of Health for the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths.
Cervical Cytology
The facilities offered by the Council for cervical cytology were further extended
during the year. In addition to the two clinics in operation in 1965, a third clinic
was opened at Louise House, Dartmouth Road, S.E.23 in May. The number of
women applying for appointments at the Central Lewisham Clinic, 410 Lewisham
High Street, S.E. 13 increased to such an extent that it was found necessary to establish
a second session at this centre in March.
Further demand resulted in the planning of a clinic at Flower House Centre,
Flower House Estate, S.E.6 to open in January, 1967.
A Cervical cytology service is necessarily dependent on the existence of sufficient
trained laboratory technicians to undertake the microscopic examination of the
smears taken. Special acknowledgement must be made to Doctor H. Barnett,
Consultant Pathologist to Lewisham Hospital and Doctor Graham Thomas, Consultant
Pathologist to the Greenwich District Hospital for their co-operation and
help in this service.
Patients are seen at clinics as a result of personal application for an appointment,
or referral by a family doctor. The patients are interviewed by a doctor, have a
pelvic examination, and then the smear is taken. All clinical findings and smear
results are notified to the family doctor.
The table below gives the findings from all clinics for the year.