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

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Hendon 1944

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon]

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9.
PROVISION OF ACCOMODATION FOR INSTITUTIONAL MIDWIFERY.
The following Table shows the hospitals to which midwifery cases were
admitted under official arrangements:—

TABLE IX.

HOSPITALCASES ADMITTED
Ashridge39
Queen Charlottes15
City of London4
Redhill County689

GAS AND AIR ANALGESIA.
Authority was given by the Council for this facility to be made
available throughout the midwifery services of the Borough, Three midwives
had already been trained and recognised as competent to administer gas and air
analgesia, and arrangements were made for others to be trained at the Central
Middlesex Hospital, Unfortunately, that course of instruction had to be
abandoned due to enemy action, but arrangenents have again been nade with the
sane hospital. It is a rule of the Central Midwives' Board that a second
person shall be present when gas and air analgesia is being adninistered, and to
neet this need the British Red Cross Socicty and the Order of St. John were
approached, and with the usual willing co-operation to be expected, nanes of
members were subnitted who were willing to attend at confinements. These
members were given instructions in the principles of procedure, and in the use
of the apparatus, and while 30 far, not many calls have been nade on then, as
gas and air analgesia was adninistered in only fifteen cases, it is likely that
with the larger number of nidwives trained in the procedure, the numbers will
materially increase,
HOME HELPS.
In order to relieve the difficulties of a mother with young children
during the times of her incapacity, the H0.-10 Help Scheme was inaugurated in
1942, and has been steadily extended. Apart from obtaining the services of as
many suitable women as possible on a part time basis, authority was given by the
Council for the employment of five full tine Home Helps, later extended to as