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Food Poisoning
A total of 447 notifications of suspected cases of food poisoning
were received. None, however, were confirmed bacteriologically.
MATERNITY SERVICES
Reference was made in my report for last year concerning
the difficulties in finding local maternity beds for some expectant
mothers. The following are the places of confinement of Romford
Mothers during 1964.
At home 693—38.4%
Oldchurch Hospital 852—47.2%
Hospitals in other areas 259—14.4%
The maternity services as detailed in my annual report for
1963 have been maintained, and we had our full establishment of
midwives throughout the year. Five Midwives are now allocated
to Group Medical Practitioners, the remaining ten being allocated
to districts.
It is interesting to note that the Romford Urban District
Council commenced a Midwifery Service in 1933 employing one
Midwife. With the coming into operation of the Midwives Act
1936, the number of midwives employed was increased to four
on the 1st September, 1937.
Analgesia. 77.2 per cent. of the women who were confined
at home received inhalation analgesia during labour and 52.2
per cent. received injections of pethidine. Some, of course, received
both analgesia and injections.
Turning back the pages of our history, the routine use of
inhalation analgesia commenced in Romford in 1949 followed
by Pethidine in 1951.
Clinic Premises. Work on the extensions to Marks Road
Clinic was completed in May 1964, enabling the Service at the
temporary annexe in Mawney Lane to be transferred to the main
building. These extensions, coupled with the provision of oilfired
central heating, modern lighting and other improvements,
have brought this clinic up-to-date. The building itself was the
first purpose built clinic in the Town, having been completed in
1935.
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