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 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Havering]
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Maternity Services
The midwifery service has achieved a very close liaison
with Rush Green Hospital and Harold Wood Hospital during the
year A working party consisting of the senior nursing officers
of both hospital and thecommunity nursing service meet regularly
to consider and discuss ways in which the efficiency of the
service can be maintained and even improved. There is continuing
contact between the hospital and community midwives, which
naturally arises from the patient being delivered in the general
practitioner units of both hospitals by domiciliary midwives who
accompany their patients into hospital for the delivery and
continue to nurse them when they are discharged to their homes
at 48 or 72 hours after the birth.
Statistics relating to this Authority's antenatal and postnatal clinics are given below:-
| Number of women attending clinics | Antenatal | Post-natal | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 935 | 1 | 936 | |
| Doctor | Midwife | TOTAL | |
| Number of sessions | 4 | 956 .. | 960 |
Mothercraft and Relaxation Classes
These classes continue to be well attended and provide an
essential service to the mothers to be in this Borough
The figures show a rise in attendance by mothers booked for hospital confinements as is shown in the following table:-
| Booked for hospital confinement | Booked for home confinement | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| N umber of women attending | 822 | 30 | 852 |
Midwifery
At December 1972 18 full-time and 4 part-time midwives
were in post, showing a continued reduction in posts since 1971
The position with regard to the availability of maternity
beds in the maternity units within Havering continues to be very
good and a hospital confinement is available for all mothers
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