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During the year, it was found necessary to provide a certain amount of Clerical Assistance
in connection with Infant Welfare work. This was not sufficient to justify the appointment
of a whole-time clerk, and the difficulty has been met through the co-operation of St.
Bartholomew's. Hospital.
The following is a tabulated statement of the work carried out by the Health Visiting
Staff in the above connection:—
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE, 1938.
Birth Notifications received, 50. (1 stillborn.)
Infant Welfare Centre, 100 Sessions:— (There were also 12 Sessions for Diphtheria Immunisation
and 5 for Schick testing.)
Attendances
Under 1 year 813
Over 1 year 843 Total 1797
Diphtheria Immunisation 40
Schick Testing 31
Mothers attending during year 106
„ left City „ „ 52
No. Children becoming 5 during year 36
No. of Children on Register at end of year:—
Under 1 year of age 34 45
„ „ „ (Did not wish to be visited) 14 (Diphtheria
Over 1 year of age 96 (immunised.
„ „ „ (Did not wish to be visited) 4
Total visits, 1,362:—
Under 1 year 456
Over 1 to 5 years 742
Ante-Natal 149
Ophthalmia 2
Deaths under 1 year 4
Still Births 1
Infant Life Protection 4
Scabies 4
MIDWIVES ACT, 1936.
CONSULTANT SERVICES AND EMERGENCY UNIT.
In connection with the scheme under the above-mentioned Act for the provision of
skilled midwifery service for all lying-in women, arrangements have been made for the
services of an obstetric consultant to be available when necessary, and also for an emergency
unit to be on call for emergency cases requiring blood and saline transfusion. For the
purposes of administration of the Act, London has been divided into areas, and the City
is in Area B, which comprises, in addition to the City, the Boroughs of Holborn, Finsbury,
St. Pancras and Islington. A list of obstetric consultants has been prepared for the whole
area, and an agreement has been entered into between the Authorities comprising Area B
and St. Bartholomew's and University College Hospitals for the provision of emergency
services.
REGISTRATION OF NURSING HOMES.
There are no nursing homes situate in the City of London, and consequently no action
has been necessary under Sections 240-249 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
The enquiries into maternal deaths, which the Ministry of Health has required to be
conducted, have not called for any particular organisation in my Department. With a small
City resident population, few deaths in this category are reported. Where such cases do
occur, investigations are conducted by me. No case was reported during 1938.
It may be of interest to note that, from 1900 to 1938 inclusive, only 17 maternal deaths
have occurred amongst City residents.
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