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
Hornsey 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornsey, Borough of]
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MIDWIFERY SERVICE
(Section 23)
The number of deliveries conducted by the midwives was 909
in 1963, for the first time in many years showing no increase since
the previous year. The number of early discharges from hospital
after confinement was 155. Schemes for planned discharges were
approved with the North Middlesex Hospital and the Whittington Hospital,
but owing to staff shortages these had only made a tentative beginning
by the end of the year.
A table is given below showing the work for the past three
years:-
| 1963 | 1962 | 1961 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of deliveries attended | 909 | 939 | 842 |
| Number of visits made | 16,223 | 16,206 | 14,795 |
| Number of hospital confinements discharged before 10th day | 155 | 175 | 160 |
| Number of visits made | 641 | 830 | 1,439 |
| Number of cases in which medical aid was summoned | 220 | 248 | 265 |
| Number of cases in which gas and air analgesia was administered | 362 | 407 | 402 |
| Number of cases in which pethidine was administered | 508 | 515 | 510 |
| Number of cases in which trichloroethylene was administered | 284 | 424 | 380 |
| Number of cases in which gas and air and trichloroethylene were administered | 25 | 12 | 11 |
HEALTH VISITING SERVICE
(Sections 24 and 28)
Health Visiting
A disturbing feature of the health visiting service has been the
difficulty experienced in filling existing staff vacancies. This appears
to be an experience of many local authorities and not merely a local
problem. The establishment of health visitors at tne end of the
year was the lowest that it has been for a number of years.
Inevitably the health visitors have far larger districts than can be
adequately covered. Routine visiting with its wide aspects of preventive
ill-health is therefore seriously underminded.
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