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MIDWIFERY SERVICE
Despite the decline in the national birth rate there were 89 more births notified in Haringey compared
with the previous year.
The number of bookings for home delivery was 1283. (842 mothers were delivered at home compared
with 850 in 1965). Of the remainder, 59 were transferred to hospital during labour, some removed from
the Borough, some were transferred to hospital bookings, and the rest miscarried.
The Emergency Obstetric Squad was utilised three times and all patients were dealt with satisfactorily.
The 'night rota' system continues to be administered effectively by the Whittington Hospital, an
average of 67 calls per month being dealt with. Of these calls, 29% were 'false alarms', i.e. the visit
did not entail delivery of the baby but was nonetheless necessary to confirm whether or not labour was
established and to give a sedative to the patient should the need be there.
The number of cases where assessment of social conditions was made in connection with planned
early discharges from hospital continued to increase. During the year requests for investigation were
received as follows:-
Source of Request No. of requests received
Hospitals in North West Metropolitan Region 222
Hospitals in North East Metropolitan Region 165
London Teaching Hospitals 25
Total 412
The number of actual planned early discharges was 281.
Further early discharges were accepted, though not planned, because of emotional difficulties due
to stillbirths, neo-natal deaths or domestic problems. These additional early discharges totalled 204.
A further 75 patients discharged themselves.
Continuing the policy of selection for hospital confinements, social assessments for suitable cases
were carried out on request as follows:-
Source of Request No. of requests received
Hospitals in North West Metropolitan Region 39
Hospitals in North East Metropolitan Region 267
General Practitioner Obstetricians 84
Local Authority Clinics 267
Total 657
The number of requests for assessment received increased by 316 as compared with 1965. Out of
657 cases investigated, 375 were referred to hospital, 240 booked for home confinement, and 42 removed
from the area or miscarried.
Liaison continues with general practitioner obstetricians, 14 of whom have a midwife in regular
attendance at their ante-natal clinics.
A table is given below showing the work for the past year-
Number of deliveries attended 842
Number of visits made: a) Ante-natal 6950
b) During Labour 1955
c) Nursing 11527 20432
Number of hospital confinements discharged before 10th day 560
Number of visits made 3311
Number of cases in which medical aid was summoned under
C.M.B. rules 132
Number of cases in which gas and oxygen analgesia was
administered 173
Number of cases in which pethidine was administered 515
Number of cases in which trichloroethylene was administered 327
Number of cases in which gas and oxygen and trichloroethylene
were administered 19
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