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79
THE SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
on the
WILLESDEN MATERNITY HOSPITAL.
Report on the work from 1st January, 1936, to 31st December, 1936.
By ARNOLD WALKER, M.A., M.B., B.Ch., F.R.C.S., M.C.O.G.
The chief item of interest during 1936 has been the publication of a Clinical Report covering
the first 3,000 cases dealt with at the Hospital. This Report has been well reviewed in the medical
press and has done a great deal to increase the reputation of the Willesden Maternity Hospital amongst
that section of the medical profession concerned with maternity work. This report was printed
and circulated on November 17th, 1936. It shows that the puerperal mortality for the booked cases
was 1.02 per 1,000 mothers. The puerperal mortality amongst the mothers who did not book with the
Willesden Maternity Hospital and were confined at home, in other institutions either as booked or
emergency cases or were admitted to the Willesden Maternity Hospital as emergency cases was 4.26
per 1,000 mothers.
It is hoped that the Council will publish similar reports from time to time. Progress in the
practice of midwifery has reached a point where methods of treatment can only be evaluated on a
statistical basis, and the reports published by first-class institutions form the basis for much clinical
research.
Again, no maternal death occurred during the year. This is the second year in which no woman
lost her life in the Hospital as the result of childbearing and the fourth successive year in which no
patient attended by the Council's Service ante-natally and throughout labour has been lost. Over
3,300 consecutive booked cases have been delivered safely.
No material changes have taken place in the Hospital during the year. Minor structural
improvements have been carried out and the Hospital has been redecorated. The curtailment of
admissions and the disorganisation of the work of the Hospital caused by redecoration emphasises the
need for a reserve ward unit.
Statistical Details of the 905 Cases dealt with during the Year.
Cases completed 905
A. Booked at the Health Centres 879
Discharged well 876
Delivered elsewhere 1
Transferred (discharged well) 2
Died 0
B. Admitted as Emergencies 26
Discharged well 25
Transferred 0
Not pregnant (ovarian cyst) 1
Died 0
Of the 879 booked cases, 418 were primiparæ and 461 were multiparæ.
Of the 25 emergency cases, 14 were primiparæ and 11 were multiparæ.
Presentations—
Occipito Anterior 792
Occipito Posterior 71
Normal Breech 15
Abnormal Breech 7
Twins. 9
Face 3
Shoulder 0
Miscarriages 7
Ante-partum Hæmorrhage—
Placenta Prævia 4
Accidental Hæmorrhage 10
Prolapse of Cord 1
Organic Heart Disease 14
Toxæmia of Pregnancy admitted for treatment 35