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
London County Council 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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69
Emergency
obstetric
service
A total of 106 calls were made to hospitals during the year for the emergency
obstetric service ; 46 of these calls were made by doctors and 60 by midwives. The
time intervals between the calling and arrival of the service were :
Percentage
of total calls
Under 10 minutes 2 calls 2%
10 to 20 minutes 34 calls 32%
20 to 30 minutes 58 calls 55%
30 to 45 minutes 12 calls 11%
There was no serious delay and in the majority of cases the unit arrived within
30 minutes of being called.
The conditions necessitating the use of the service were :
Obstetric shock 3
Post partum haemorrhage 26
Retained placenta with post partum
haemorrhage 34
Retained placenta 7
Secondary post partum haemorrhage 5
Ante partum haemorrhage 10
Eclampsia 1
Malpresentation 6
Failed forceps 1
Deep transverse arrest 1
Impacted shoulders 1
Cervical and vaginal lacerations 2
Pulmonary embolus 1
Post partum anaemia with collapse 2
Foetal distress 1
Prematurity 1
Abortions 4
Total
106
The action taken by the emergency obstetric service was:
| Treatment given | Removed to Hospital | Remained at at Home | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obstetric shock | |||
| Blood transfusion | – | 1 | 1 |
| Dextrose transfusion | 1 | – | 1 |
| Administration of drugs | 1 | – | 1 |
| Post partum haemorrhage | |||
| Blood transfusion | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| Dextrose transfusion | 1 | – | 1 |
| Administration of drugs | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| No treatment | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Retained placenta with post partum haemorrhage | |||
| Blood transfusion | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Dextrose transfusion | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Administration of drugs | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Manual removal with blood transfusion | 1 | 12 | 13 |
| Manual expression of placenta | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| No treatment | 5 | – | 5 |
| Retained placenta | |||
| Blood transfusion | – | 2 | 2 |
| Dextrose transfusion | 1 | – | 1 |
| Administration of drugs | 1 | – | 1 |
| No treatment | 3 | – | 3 |
| Secondary post partum haemorrhage | |||
| Blood transfusion | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| No treatment | 2 | – | 2 |