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

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City of Westminster 1920

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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4
Ante-natal Clinics.—The object of these clinics is to ascertain if any
abnormal conditions exist calling for treatment or for special attention
at the time of delivery.

Attendances were made as follows :—

Centre.Sessions.First Attendance.Subsequent Attendances.Total.
Pimlico Road50121144265
Bessborough Street9181028
59139154293

Attendance during Confinement.—The Council's midwife attended
necessitous women and emergency cases in the Pimlico area. Eighty
women were attended and 1,111 lying-in visits paid. She also paid
206 visits to expectant mothers, and 78 to infants, a total of 1,443 visits.
She also attended on 55 occasions at the Ante-natal Clinics at both
centres, and on 26 other occasions at Pimlico Road, besides assisting
when available at the children's inspections.
In the St. John and St.. Margaret's area, the Health Society has
appointed two midwives. They attended 143 cases, paying 1,894 visits.
They also paid 390 visits to expectant mothers and 168 in connection
with infant health. In addition, 4 confinements were attended and
18 visits paid in the Pimlico area, making a total of 2,470 visits paid.
In each area a sub-committee considers the cases and decides whether
any contributions should be paid towards the expenses.
In both districts the midwives act as monthly nurses where doctors
are in attendance ; and also in co-operation with St. George's and
Westminster Hospitals, where students are attending; there were 82 of
these cases, included in the figures given above.
Lying-in Hospital Accommodation.—There is now no hospital in Westminster
specially devoted to this class of work. The general hospitals
take in special cases requiring operative or other treatment, and one
Home has resident midwives to attend unmarried mothers admitted
thereto. That there is a desire on the part of many to enter a lying-in
home for their confinement is shown by the fact that 618 infants were
born in such institutions in various parts of London and the suburbs.
A proposal made by the Women's Section of Comrades of the Great War
to open a Maternity Home in conjunction with the Council was considered.
The Council expressed the opinion that such a Home is badly required,
but did not think time was opportune to incur the large annual expenditure
suggested. Information was received of women being discharged