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
Havering 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Havering]
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The domiciliary midwives continued attending their mothers
in the Rush Green General Practitioner Unit and commenced
attending their own patients in Harold Wood General Practitioner
Maternity Unit in October 1971.
The percentage of hospital births for 1971 was 89.3%, an
increase of 4.3% over 1970.
The number of domiciliary confinements decreased from 558
in 1970 to 414 in 1971.
The number of patients delivered in hospital but discharged
before the tenth day into care of the domiciliary midwife increased
from 3,115 to 3,249, added to which 187 babies were delivered by
the domiciliary midwives in the hospital general practitioner
units. This shows the continued trend for the domiciliary midwife
to conduct less deliveries in the patient's home but to go with
the mother into the hospital general practitioner unit, deliver her
baby and return to care for the mother and child in their own home
shortly afterwards. This ensures the availability of the best
conditions for the delivery but with the continuity of care which
is so essential.
During the year 20 pupil midwives completed their second
part district training under the direction of approved teaching
midwives. In addition 24 students undertaking obstetric training
at Rush Green Hospital spent a day with a domiciliary midwife
accompanying her on her visits and attending a general practitioner
antenatal clinic.
Family Planning
The family planning services within the Borough were
further extended during 1971. The service provided by the Council
was increased to five clinics within the Borough and the Family
Planning Agency Scheme No.5 was implemented which entitled
Havering residents to free consultation, advice and supplies
when family planning was required for medical reasons, and free
consultations in non-medical cases.
The F.P.A. continued to provide a full family planning
service in their Romford premises provided for their use by
Havering Council and the additional evening clinic in South
Hornchurch has become after an initial slack period quite a busy
session.
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