London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Croydon 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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151
In a total of 160 maternal deaths over a period of 13 years,
46.8% came under causes which may be classified as preventable;
25% under possibly preventable and 28.2% under not preventable
causes. The remainder could not be classified fairly under these
headings.
Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.
Thirteen cases of puerperal fever, and 23 cases of puerperal
pyrexia were notified. This is a rate of 3.7 per 1,000 births for
the former and 6.5 per 1,000 for the latter. The death rates were :
Puerperal fever 1.14 per 1,000 births; there were no deaths attributed
to puerperal pyrexia.
The following Table gives fuller details concerning these
cases:—
Table LXXVIII.
| Puerperal Fever. | Puerperal Pyrexia. | |
|---|---|---|
| No. of cases notified | 13 | 23 |
| „ „ attended by doctor alone at confinement | — | 1 |
| „ „ attended by doctor and midwife | 8 | 9 |
| „ „ attended by midwife alone | 5 | 12 |
| „ „ attended in an institution | 5 | 11 |
| „ „ treated at home only | 5 | 7 |
| „ „ treated at hospital | 5 | 11 |
| „ „ treated partly at home and partly in hospital | 3 | 4 |
| „ „ who died | 1 | - |
The Council have arrangements with a panel of local medical
practitioners to act as Consultants for the purpose of a second
opinion when this is desired by the patient's medical attendant.
The fees are paid by the Council. The Council also retain the
services of Drs. Wyatt and Richardson, of London, to act as
consultants in exceptional cases. In addition, at the end of the
year, the services of the whole-time Specialist Obstetric Surgeon
became available for private medical practitioners. All the practitioners
in the Borough were notified of the arrangement, and
during the first six weeks of his services, he was called into consultation
in 13 cases. When it is remembered that throughout
1929 only 7 similar consultations were requested, it is clear that
the new scheme is appreciated. His services are given without
cost to the patient.
Under Section 2 (1) of the Midwives and Maternity Homes
Act, 1926, a midwife is enabled to claim compensation for loss of
practice on account of suspension from work to prevent the