View report page

13
Almost throughout the year there is a waiting list, but the
Nursery caters for a slightly different class of child to that which
seeks admission to the Nursery Classes. Most of the children are
under two years of age, though older children are admitted. Last
year, of children admitted, 66 were under 2 years of age and 29
were over 2 years. 5,224 attendances were made.
Maternal Mortality.
There were two maternal deaths; one of these was placed
in the category of Maternal after the Registrar-General had made
inquiries of the doctors and relatives. The woman died of pyaemia
and thrombosis of the vena cava, following phlebitis, but it was
subsequently ascertained that it was the result of abortion. This
fact was not brought to our notice until a period of twelve months
had elapsed since the death.
The circumstances of the second case were different. The
patient had engaged a private midwife and did not attend an antenital
clinic, but the midwife examined a specimen of her urine.
On the first occasion it was stated that there was a trace of albumin,
but the second specimen, examined a week later, was stated to be
flex of albumin, but no other information was available. Three
weeks later the patient complained of headache, and was found
unconscious at the foot of the stairs in her house. She was taken
to the Acton Hospital. On admission the blood pressure was
160/100 m.m. and the urine boiled almost solid with albumin. She
died on the day of admission after operation for Caesarian section.
The most important change in practice has been the operation
of the Midwives Act of 1936. The authority responsible for the
Act here is the Middlesex County Council. The Borough Council
made application to the Ministry of Health for power to act as the
local Supervising authority for the area, but the application was
refused. Under the Midwives Act 1936 it is the duty of the local
Supervising authority to ensure, either by making arrangements
with welfare councils, or voluntary organisations, for the employment
by those councils or organisations of certified midwives as
whole time servants, or by itself employing such midwives, that
the number of certified midwives so employed who are available
in its area for attendance on women in their own homes as midwives,
is adequate for the needs of the area.
For this area, the Middlesex County Council have made an
agreement with the authorities of Queen Charlotte's Hospital for
the provision of a domiciliary service of midwives. As the members
of the Council are aware, Queen Charlotte's Hospital has made
arrangement for carrying out part of its work in its premises at