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 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Particulars of domiciliary premature live births are set out below. The difference between
the total (524) shown in this table and the number (517) quoted above represents the
number of cases attended by doctors and midwives independently of the Council's domiciliary
midwifery service.
Table (iv)
| Weight | Number | Proportion per 100 live premature infants | Deaths in 24 hours | Survivors at 28 days | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Per 100 live premature infants | Number | Per 100 live premature infants | |||
| 3 lb. 4 oz. or less | 27 | 5 | 9 | 33.3 | 13 | 48.1 |
| 3 lb. 5 oz. to 4 lb. 6 oz. | 63 | 12 | 7 | 11.1 | 54 | 85.7 |
| 4 lb. 7 oz. to 4 lb. 15 oz. | 95 | 18 | 4 | 4.2 | 88 | 92.6 |
| 5 lb. to 5 lb. 8 oz. | 339 | 65 | 1 | 0.3 | 335 | 98.8 |
| All cases | 524 | 100 | 21 | 4.0 | 490 | 93.5 |
These figures, especially those relating to infants surviving at 28 days, compare favourably
with those for all live premature infants born in the administrative county during 1960,
(see table (xiii), page 17).
Table (v)—
| 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas and air | 70% | 84% | 35 % | 87% | 17% | 88% | 9% | 87% | 8% | 86% |
| Trilene | 14% | 52% | 71 % | 78% | 78% | |||||
Each of the Council's midwives had been equipped with a portable trilene inhaler by the
end of 1957. A marked reduction has resulted 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 in her, or a doctor's, clinical judgment it is required.
Midwives Act, 1951
Notifications received of intention to practise:
1956 1957 1958 1959 1960
As midwives 1,164 1,193 1,160 1,285 1,404
As maternity nurses 144 137 121 110 25 (1.2.60-30.6.60)
As a result of amendments to the Rules of the Central Midwives Board, which became
effective on 1 July, 1960, the distinction between practising as a midwife and acting as a
maternity nurse has been removed. In the past a midwife who only acted as a maternity
nurse was required to notify her intention to practise as a maternity nurse but was not
required to attend compulsory refresher courses. The meaning of the term 'practising
midwife' has been altered to include the former maternity nurse and, as a consequence of
this change in definition, any person who wishes to attend maternity cases must notify her
intention to practise as a midwife and attend compulsory refresher courses required by the
Central Midwives Board.
In accordance with section G.l of Rules of the Central Midwives Board, 120 midwives
in the county attended a refresher course during the year.
Fees to medical practitioners called in by midwives in emergency:
1956 1957 1958 1959 1960
Number of claims 2,554 2,479 2,626 2,653 2,350
66