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 1957

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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DOMICILIARY MIDWIFERY SERVICE
The duty to provide an adequate domiciliary midwifery service is discharged through
the Council's own midwives and those employed by district nursing associations and
hospitals. Figures are given in Tables (i) and (ii) below.

Table: Table (i)

Table (i)

19561957
Full time salaried midwives employed by the Council9287*
Midwives employed by district nursing associations")"4644
District midwives employed by hospitals4439

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* 4 vacancies.
† Including supervisory staff.

Table: Table (ii) Total number of domiciliary confinements attended by London County Council, Hospital andNursing Association midwives—1955-1957

Table (ii) Total number of domiciliary confinements attended by London County Council, Hospital andNursing Association midwives—1955-1957

Number of confinementsNumber of confinementsGrand Total
Doctor not bookedDoctor booked
TearL.C.C.District Nursing AssociationHospitalL.C.C.District Nursing AssociationHospital
Doctor presentDoctor not presentDoctor presentDoctor not presentDoctor presentDoctor not presentDoctor presentDoctor not presentDoctor presentDoctor not presentDoctor presentDoctor not present
19552453,729541,745221,7767591,042138157981339,898
19551933,500681,790251,9448471,29313419710314810,242
19571723,325681,624291,7119961,5481522946819610,183

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85 per cent. of all the domiciliary confinements in 1957 were conducted without
the attendance of a doctor.
General statistics
1956
1957
Premature babies born
Still-births per 1,000 births
Inhalation analgesia administered—
Gas and air
Trilene
Total
509
8.8
70%
14%
84%
501
8.5
35%
52%
87%
Each midwife in the service now has an approved Trilene inhaler and the Minnitts
(gas and air) apparatus can be brought to the patient's home by the ambulance service
at her request.

Table: Midwives Act, 1951 Notifications of intention to practise were received as follows :

Midwives Act, 1951 Notifications of intention to practise were received as follows :

19531954195519561957
As midwives1,1711,1421,1931,1641,193
As maternity nurses175168150144137