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

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Paddington 1933

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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In consideration of a further payment at the rate of £100 per annum, the Hospital Authorities have
agreed to provide the part-time services of an almoner for duties in connection with the assessment
and collection of charges for the use of the maternity wards.
During the nine months, 1st April to 31st December, 132 women were delivered in the wards,
2 of whom died following difficult labour. One case of puerperal fever and 4 cases of puerperal pyrexia
were notified. There were 9 stillbirths, and 1 child died within 10 days of birth.
The payments made by patients admitted, or accepted for admission, to the wards amounted to
£456 17s. Od. for the 9 months.
Midwifery Service.—In March, 1932, the Council authorised the Maternity and Child Welfare
Committee to make arrangements for the provision of a qualified midwife to attend emergency maternity
cases at an estimated cost of £10 per annum. This service is undertaken by the Paddington and St.
Marylebone District Nursing Association. No cases were attended during 1933.
Under a further arrangement the midwifery staff of the Nursing Association attend, on behalf of
the Council, certain women in their own homes who, for various reasons, are unable to go to an
institution for their confinements. Payment is made at the rate of £3 3s. 0d. per case, the whole or
part of the cost being recovered from the patients. During 1933, 2 cases were attended, the patients'
contributions collected to the end of the year amounting to £2 17s. 0d.
Maternity Consultations.—On 2 occasions the services of an obstetric consultant were requisitioned
on account of complications associated with cases of parturition.
Baby Hospital, LadbroJce Square.—The Council, on the 21st March, 1933, decided to make
provision of four beds at the Baby Hospital, Ladbroke Square, for the reception of ailing infants
recommended for treatment there by the Medical Officers of the Council's Welfare Centres, at a cost
of £400 per annum. The beds became available on the 1st May, and on the following day 4 specially
selected children were admitted.
The beds were occupied in unbroken sequence during the 8 months until the end of the year by
17 babies, 3 of whom unfortunately died there. The longest stay in Hospital was 23 weeks, the shortest
about 3 weeks.
Special attention is paid by the Health Visitors, etc., to children after their discharge, and
periodical reports are submitted to the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee.
Every case admitted is reported to the Grants Sub-Committee and where considered necessary the
parents are assessed to pay a small weekly sum towards the cost of maintenance, etc., in Hospital.
The total sum recovered during the 8 months amounted to £8 2s. 6d.
DAY NURSERIES.
At the end of the year 1933, there were two Day Nurseries in Paddington, situated at No. 66,
Lancefield Street, Queen's Park, W.10. and No. 21, Howlev Place. W.2.

Statistical Summary.

Queen's Park.Howley Place.
Full days.Saturdays.Full days.Saturdays.
Days open2534925350
Attendances5,5749829,7181,093
Average attendance22203822
New Children3135

Cases of Infectious Disease.

Diphtheria_2
Measles7
German Measles7
Infective Enteritis_1
Chicken Pox16
Impetigo4

There were no Closures during the Year on Account of Infectious Disease.