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 1958

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

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Table: 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. Table (i) Staff

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. Table (i) Staff

195619571958
The Council928787
District Nursing Associations (including supervisory staff)464448
Hospitals443940

Table: Table (ii)—Domiciliary confinements attended

Table (ii)—Domiciliary confinements attended

YearNumber of confinementsNumber of confinementsGrand Total
Doctor not bookedDoctor booked
L.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
19561933,500681,790251,9448471,29313419710314810,242
19571723,325681,624291,7119961,5481522946819610,183
19582012,899751,577231,6931,1351,96618238914422510,509

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83 per cent of all the domiciliary confinements in 1958 were conducted without the
attendance of a doctor. This figure compares with 85 per cent in 1957 and 87 per cent in
1956.

Table: Table (iii)

Table (iii)

195619571958
Premature babies born509501482
Still-births per 1,000 total births8.88.58.4
Inhalation analgesia administered— Gas and air70%84%35%87%17%88%
Trilene14%52%71%

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Portable trilene inhalers were introduced into the Council's service in 1955 and by
the end of 1957 each of the Council's midwives had been equipped with an inhaler
and trained in its use. In consequence there has been a marked reduction in the use of
the more cumbersome gas and air apparatus which, nevertheless, is still delivered by the
London Ambulance Service on a midwife's request for use when labour is prolonged.

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

Midwives Act, 1951 Notifications received of intention to practise:

195619571958
As midwives1,1641,1931,160
As maternity nurses144137121

Table: Fees to medical practitioners called in by midwives in emergency:

Fees to medical practitioners called in by midwives in emergency:

195619571958
Number of claims2,5542,4792,626

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67
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