London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hendon 1943

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon]

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complication of pregnancy.
8.
PROVISION OF ACCOMMODATION FOR INSTITUTIONAL MIDWIFERY.
The following Table shows the Hospitals to which midwifery cases
were admitted under official arrangements:-

TABLE VIII

HOSPITALCASES ADMITTED
Ashridge29
Queen Charlotte's10
City c. London1
Redhill County597

??? to the increased high birth rate and the upset of family life
consequent upon war-time conditions, the Council decided to explore the
adequacy or otherwise of the provisions for institutional midwifery. A
Sub-Committee of the Public Health and Medical Services Committee was formed
to consider the master, and reported that in their view the existing provisions
were inadequate. The Sub-Committee inspected a number of properties and
eventually found one capable of being adapted to form a maternity unit of 20 beds
with a capacity of approximately 400 confinements each year, and recommended that
such a unit should be established. This recommendation was approved by the
Council and was submitted to the Minister of Health with plans and estimates,
The Minister, however, took the view that any additional institutional provision
for midwifery should be provided by the County Council and linked up with their
general hospital service. The matter was still under consideration at the end
of the year.
HOME HELPS.
In the last year's Report a brief summary was given of the Home Help
Scheme which has now been extended and amended in detail.
The Home Helps have mainly worked as an ancillary to the domiciliary
midwifery service and have provided a valuable social service particularly under
existing conditions where the upset of family life has created unusual difficulties
for the expectant mother. It is hoped that this scheme may be extended to
cover incapacity from other causes in the mother with young children.
The number of cases attended by Home Helps was 135.