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of the mother in such matters as health during pregnancy, relaxation
during the confinement, and the care of the baby. The medical
examinations will be carried out by our own medical officers in the
case of patients booked for Upney, and one of the hospital medical
officers will visit each of the clinics at fortnightly intervals to see each
mother towards the end of pregnancy or at any other time requested
by our own Medical Officer. Where the patient is booked for home
confinement intermediate examinations will be carried out in the clinic
by the midwife booked to attend her; the family doctor (who is called
in during labour if the midwives ask for medical assistance) will be
given the option of undertaking the necessary medical examinations,
but if preferred these can be carried out in the clinic as with those
mothers booked for hospital confinement.
Confinements. During the year 1,012 mothers were confined,
giving birth to 1,027 infants (including 15 pairs of twins). These were
born as follows:—
Barking Hospital 707
Other hospitals 100
At home 220
1,027
From this it will be seen that the majority of Barking babies continue
to be born in hospital.
I regret to have to report a maternal death during 1954, in a
patient who steadfastly refused to enter hospital despite the earnest
advice of the Midwife, General Practitioner and Clinic Medical
Officer. She finally consented to enter hospital but it proved too
late and she died six days after admission. The maternal mortality
rate is thus 0.97 per thousand live and still-births.
Post-Naial Care. 941 women attended the Post-Natal Clinic
making a total of 1,211 attendances; 288 women had conditions
requiring a further attendance.
Of the 941 women who attended 284 were resident outside the
area but had their babies in Barking Hospital. Out of a total of
1012 confinements of Barking mothers during the year 657 attended
the Post-Natal Clinic; 67 were under the care of their General Practitioner
and 96 were under the care of a hospital outside the district.
This gives us a figure of 77% attendance at the Post-Natal Clinic—a
further imprpvement on last year's figures, but still short of our aim
of 100%.
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