London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Beckenham 1939

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Beckenham]

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Work on the new Home was delayed by the occupation of
part of the premises by troops, but by December 25th it was possible
to open a small part. Up to that date 64 patients had been dealt
with by the temporary domiciliary service.
The new Home was gradually completed and furnished and
is now in 1940 dealing with an average number of fifty cases per
month.
The number of admissions in 1939 up to the date mentioned
was 246 compared with 333 in 1938.
DISTRICT CASES.
Cases who do not wish to enter the Maternity Home for confinement
and cannot afford the services of a private doctor, can have
the attendance of a County Midwife who may refer her patient to
the Clinic under the Ante-Natal Scheme.
54 patients were referred to the Clinic by Midwives during
1939 and 150 examinations were made.
ANTE-NATAL WORK.
Ante-Natal Clinics are held at the Home. Every mother
entering the Home under the care of the Midwives attends these
Clinics for Ante-Natal Supervision by the Home Midwives. Both
Beckenham and Penge cases are dealt with. During 1939, 327
expectant mothers (Beckenham 258, Penge 69) attended the Maternity
Home Clinic.
The number of Sessions held was 156, and the attendances
numbered 1,648, a weekly average of 31.
ADMINISTRATION AND COST.
The comparative return of the cost of maintaining Municipal
Maternity Homes in England shows that the cost per patient
week in the Beckenham and Penge Home compares favourably with
similar Homes throughout the country.
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
Since the Home was opened in August, 1920, there have been
5,548 births in the Home and 1,314 on the District, giving a total of
6,862 births up to 5/9/39. There have been in all, 10 maternal
deaths, giving a maternal mortality rate of 1.45 per 1,000 births,
compared with the rate over the same period of approximately
4.00 per 1,000 births for England and Wales as a whole.
ANNUAL STATISTICS FOR 1939
Relating to the Beckenham and Penge Joint Maternity Home

Relating to the Beckenham and Penge Joint Maternity Home

Information RequiredParticulars
1. Name and Address of InstitutionBeckenham and Penge Joint Maternity Home, 80, Croydon Road, Beckenham