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Puerperal Pyrexia.—22 cases were notified during the year. 2 of these 22 cases proved
fatal, one of the fatal cases being a miscarriage.
During 1932 the Council have continued their efforts to deal effectively with the subject of
maternal mortality.
(1) Sterilised Accouchment Sets.—These sets are supplied in accordance with the arrangements
stated in last year's report.
During 1932, 93 were supplied free, 15 at full cost and 3 at part cost.
(2) Specialist Help.—The. Council accept responsibility for the payment of the fee of one
of their specialists called in by a medical practitioner to assist him in connection with
a difficult case of labour occurring in a Willesden resident. 3 such consultations were
paid for in 1932.
(3) Provision of Ancesthetist.—The Council further accept responsibility for the payment of a
fee to an anaesthetist, called in by a medical practitioner in connection with confinement
cases. 1 such fee was paid in 1932.
Maternal Mortality.—The Council has continued to take part in the investigation of deaths
of mothers in childbirth for the Maternal Mortality Committee of the Ministry of Health. The
investigations are carried out by the Council's Consultant Obstetrician. 13 cases were inquired
into during 1932.
The services of the Council's Consultant Obstetrician are also available in cases of Puerperal
Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia when desired by the practitioner in attendance.
The action taken by the Authority in the light of Circular 1167 and Memorandum 156/MCW
was set out on page 9 of last year's report. The Willesden Maternity Hospital has now been recognised
as a Training School for Midwives, and the training of midwives will commence as from April 1st,
1933.
Health Visiting and Medical Inspection of Children between the Ages of
1 and 5 Years.
The practice described under this heading on page 9 of the Annual Report for 1931 was
continued during the current year.
Routine medical inspection of pre-school children was commenced in September, 1930, and is
held at special infant welfare consultations at the Health Centres. When a child reaches the ages
of 18 months, 2 years, 3 years and 4 years it is visited by the Health Visitor, and the mother is invited
to attend the Centre with it for medical inspection. If the mother accepts, a special appointment is
made, and she is given an invitation card to show to the clerk on arrival. There is close co-operation
between the clerk, the Health Visitor and the Medical Officer, so that every child has proper time
and attention given to it. Children already under supervision at the ordinary sessions are given
special appointments when they reach the medical inspection ages, as it was found that they could
not be adequately dealt with at the ordinary sessions without holding up the other cases. The
mothers also prefer this method.
The areas dealt with vary, some being poor with many mothers out at work ; consequently
only a proportion of invitations are accepted, and only a proportion of those accepting actually
turn up. The existence of this examination is well recognised by now, and mothers are beginning
to remind the nurse or doctor that the child is ready for his medical inspection.
The aims are:—
(1) To detect defects and have them remedied.