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
Dagenham 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]
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85
With regard to the Council midwives, these work
in pairs in order that they may relieve one another for
off-duty times, or on other occasions when, for any
reason, they are not available to answer calls. Midwives
also attend the Ante-Natal Clinics at which they
assist; this enables them to become acquainted with
their patients, to be informed of all conditions associated
with the pregnancy and to work in close
collaboration with the Health Visitors, who will, at a
later date, visit the children.
All patients to be attended by Council and Association
midwives are provided free of charge with a
sterile maternity outfit, and in certain cases miscarriages
are attended by the midwives included in the scheme.
Below is a table setting forth in statistical form, the work of the Corporation Midwives, Dagenham Nursing Association and Salvation Army Midwives :—
| Municipal Midwives. | Dagenham Nursing Association. | Salvation Army Nurses. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From 1/2/38-31/12/38 | From 1/2/38-31/12/38 | From 3/3/38-31/12/38 | |
| Binhs Attended : | |||
| As Midwife | 367 | 344 | 146 |
| As Maternity Nurse | 132 | 53 | 11 |
| Miscarriages Attended | 12 | 9 | 1 |
| Visits Paid: | |||
| As Midwife | 6,992 | (9,351 ) | 3,242 |
| As Maternity Nurse | 3,117 | 243 | |
| Ante-Natal | 3,122 | 2,916 | 221 |
| Ante-Natal Clinics Attended | 384 | 177 | 74 |
The arrangements whereby midwives attend antenatal
clinics is giving satisfaction, as the findings of the
Doctors in charge are thereby explained in detail to the
midwife who will take the confinement. Further, the
fact that the patient becomes acquainted with the
midwife is helpful, inasmuch as it allays any fear the
former may have with regard to calling in a person who
otherwise would be a stranger.