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None of these cases occurred in the Upney Maternity Pavilion, but one of them
was a patient who was in the Upney Maternity Pavilion for ante-natal treatment,
discharged herself and was re-admitted to another hospital.
One other death I find was only technically a Barking case. She only acquired
a Barking residence just before her death and was neither seen nor attended by any
of the officers of your services.
Three of these five deaths must, in the present state of our knowledge, be
described as inevitable.
You are making determined efforts to reduce maternal mortality in Barking,
and I am happy to be able to tell you that of the total number of births last year,
namely 1,169, a total of 825 mothers attended your ante-natal clinics during the
year. This total represents roughly seventy per cent. of the total births.
During the year Circular 1622, dealing with Maternal Mortality, was received
from the Ministry of Health.
Most of the recommendations contained in this Circular were already in
operation and, after consideration of the Circular, you set up an emergency unit,
i.e., a "flying squad" at your Maternity Pavilion, to be available for the domiciliary
treatment of maternity patients whose conditions are too grave to justify their
removal to hospital.
It is not anticipated that this " flying squad " will carry out much work in the
homes of Barking, that is unless your present policy should ever be altered. Your
present policy is to try and anticipate all difficulties, and even where a difficulty
occurs which could not have been anticipated you arrange for the person to be
removed, if possible, to the Upney Maternity Pavilion where only can the more
serious surgical treatment be carried out under suitable conditions.
All cases where any abnormality arises or is anticipated are referred to the
Consultant Ante-Natal Clinic, where they are under the care of Mr. J. V. O'Sullivan.
Mr. O'Sullivan also sees certain cases when complications arise during or after
the confinement, and both his services and hospital beds are available for cases
when such specialist treatment is required.
(j) Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—During 1937 five cases of ophthalmia neonatorum
were notified and all of these cases recovered with unimpaired vision.
In last year's Beport a decrease in this figure was noted and again this year's
figure shows a decline in the number of cases of ophthalmia neonatorum.