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This post-natal figure is still much lower than
I could wish; at the same time, it shows a definite
step in the right direction, and I look forward with
hopefulness to still further increase next year.
(b) Midwifery.
(i ) Supervision. There were 11 midwives
practising in the Borough at the end of the year, 6 of
which were employed at the Upney Maternity Pavilion.
During the year 1941, midwives sought medical
assistance in 207 cases; 27 of these were on behalf of
babies.
(ii) Midwives Act, 1956, 307 mothers were delivered
in Barking under your district midwifery scheme during
the year 1941. In addition 24 mothers wore delivered by
doctors with district midwives acting as maternity nurses.
(c) Upney Maternity Pavilion (and Barking
Emergency Hospital-), At the Upney
Maternity Pavilion during 1941, 4l8 patients were confined,
63 patients were admitted for ante-natal treatment, 1 for
post-natal treatment and there were 5 miscarriages.
At the Barking Emergency Hospital 215 expectant
mothers spent a total of l660 bed days, which I think is
a matter for both note and congratulation; it certainly
shows that there is a real demand for this means of
hospitalisation, which no doubt you will wish to consider
as one of your post-War developments when the Barking
Hospital will no longer be available for this purpose.
In addition, the Barking Hospital has been used in other
ways also; there were 6 miscarriage cases, 6 gynaecological,
3 abortions, 3 post-mis carriage and 18 postconfinement
cases, a total of 36 who spent 286 bed days,
(d) Evacuation.
Evacuation of expectant mothers in the last
month of pregnancy proceeded in 1941 as in the previous
year. 167 were sent to Radlett, and owing to the limited
accomodation there 13 were sent to other places in
Hertfordshire.
(e) Infant Welfare Centres.
The total number of attendances at the Infant
Welfare Centres during 1941 was 27,028, compared with
29,347 in 1940. This decrease can be accounted for by
the fact that by the early months of 1941 considerable
areas of the Town had become uninhabitable by reason of
enemy action and many of our mothers and children were
staying elsewhere temporarily. Another factor which
would contribute to this is that three of our Clinics
during the first months of the "blitz" were used as First
Aid Posts and it had been our habit during day-time alerts
to defer the Clinics, sending the mothers and children
to shelters; on account of this, the numbers had tended
to decline and the mothers had rather got out of the habit
of attending the Clinics,.
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