View report page

Two maternal deaths were the subject of investigation during
the year, as mention was made of pregnancy or parturition on the
death certificates. In one case the death was ascribed to
Nephritis, and the other to Pneumonia.
Home Confinements. 838 mothers were confined at home
during the year, of whom 755 received ante-natal care from
General Medical Practitioners and District Midwives. 167
expectant mothers, compared with 181 in 1960, attended our
ante-natal clinics, of whom 63 were confined at home.
Ante-Natal Instruction Classes. The classes for expectant
mothers held by the Health Visitors (the syllabus of which was
given in the 1960 Annual Report) were held at three centres
throughout the year, and an additional class was commenced at
Rise Park Social Hall in November.
Post-natal Care. Of the 63 mothers who attended the antenatal
clinics and were confined at home, 45 (71 per cent) returned
for post-natal examination.
Midwifery. During 1961, the full establishment of 14 District
Midwives was maintained, and the arrangement whereby an
additional Salvation Army Midwife from the Mothers' Hospital,
Clapton, provides a service in the Rush Green area continues. We
are fortunate in being able to report that vacancies were filled
almost as soon as they occurred.
Analgesia. 92.1 per cent of the women who were confined
at home received inhalation analgesia during labour, and 49.5
per cent received pain killing injections of pethic le. Some
mothers, of course, received both analgesia and injections.
Training of Pupil Midwives. In addition to the training
facilities afforded to the Mothers' Hospital, Clapton, 5 Pupil Midwives
from Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital received their
district training under the tutelage of 3 of our District Midwives.
Clinic Premises
During the year, owing to the pressure on accommodation at
the clinic in Marks Road, premises in Mawney Lane, formerly
used as a fire station were adapted for use as an annexe to this
Clinic and were brought into use on the 11th September providing
Page 24