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In 1967 a young lady celebrated her 21st birthday; she was born in Sydenham in
1946, and weighed 2 lb. In those days special premature baby units were rare and
heated ambulances and portable incubators were non existent. She was nursed at
home by a midwife who cared for her for 6 months until she weighed 6£ lb.
Although she now lives in Surrey, her parents have never forgotten the midwife
who kept her alive, and who still works in the Borough Midwifery Service, and she
was invited to and attended the 21st birthday party.
Liaison with the Hospital Service
The Maternity Liaison Committees met at intervals during 1967, and some small
changes were made in the maternity catchment areas. It is regrettably necessary for
the expectant mothers of Lewisham who need or desire a hospital confinement to be
divided between 5 maternity units, 4 of which are outside the Borough.
The hospitals concerned are:—
Lewisham Hospital Maternity Unit
St. Alfege's Wing Maternity Unit
Beckenham Maternity Hospital
Bromley Maternity Hospital, which has two branches at
Masons Hill and Widmore Road
As each of these units maintains a scheme with the Lewisham Borough for the
nursing of planned early discharges great co-operation is needed to ensure that continuous
care is given throughout pregnancy, labour and post-natal period, whether
part of it is spent in hospital or at home. 1,074 patients were nursed for the hospitals
under these schemes.
Liaison with General Practitioner Obstetricians
14 General Practitioner Obstetricians attend the midwives ante-natal clinics; and a
total of 12,140 attendances were made. Although this is a reduction in the number
seen in 1966 (15,172), the number of ante-natal visits paid at the homes has increased
and was 12,642 (9,607 in 1966); 24,262 post-natal visits were made by midwives.
Special Liaison with Lewisham Hospital
The Emergency Obstetric Unit from Lewisham Hospital was called out 24 times
during the year. The Premature Baby Unit is sent out when required to transfer small
or delicate babies to the special care unit—usually in a portable incubator which is
always kept heated and ready at the hospital.
Maternal Deaths
3 maternal deaths were investigated under the scheme inaugurated by the Ministry of
Health for the Confidential Enquiry into maternal deaths, whereby the Medical
Officer of Health is responsible for initiating enquiry into such deaths whether at
home or in hospital.
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