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78
THE EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
ON THE
WILLESDEN MATERNITY HOSPITAL.
Report on the work from 1st January, 1938, to 31st December, 1938.
By ARNOLD WALKER, M.A., M.B., B.Ch., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.O.G.
In 1937, the number of patients admitted taxed the accommodation of the hospital to the
limit on occasions and it was thought that the number of 1,037 would not be reached again. In 1938,
however, no less than 1,045 have passed through. As it is impossible to form more than a rough
estimate of the date on which labour is likely to commence, there have been many occasions when the
number of patients have exceeded the number of beds and the only way in which the situation could
be dealt with was by sending patients home before the fourteenth day. In view of the fact that the
Midwives Act (1936) now lays down the lying-in period as being fourteen days, it is to be hoped that
the time is not far distant when the problem will be solved by an increase in the size of the hospital.
During the year, no maternal deaths have occurred and, at the time of writing this report,
over 6,000 cases have passed through the hospital with five deaths amongst booked cases. During the
present year, the Consultant Obstetrician hopes to produce a full clinical report on the second
3,000 cases.
The most serious problem which is facing maternity hospitals at the present time is the difficulty
of obtaining midwives to act as Staff Nurses. Your Consultant Obstetrician was asked a short time
ago to prepare a memorandum on the subject of the staffing of maternity institutions by the British
College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and, as a result of a careful examination of the statistics
in the possession of the Central Midwives Board, it was clear that although there is a large surplus of
trained midwives in the country as a whole, few are coming forward. The remainder are finding that
other branches of nursing offer better terms and better prospects and it seems clear that unless radical
improvements are made in the terms offered the time is approaching when the activities of maternity
institutions will have to be curtailed owing to lack of staff. Already one municipal mate rnity
hospital in London has closed owing to its inability to obtain staff and others are in serious difficulties.
During the past year, the Sister Tutor passed the first part of the Teacher's Diploma and two
other sisters are attending the course of instruction. It is to be hoped that every encouragement will
be given to suitable candidates on the staff to take this diploma.
Statistical Details of the 1,045 Cases dealt with during 1938.
Cases Completed 1,045
A. Booked at the Health Centres 1,024
Discharged well 1,021
Delivered elsewhere 1
Transferred (discharged well) 2
Died 0
B. Admitted as Emergencies 21
Discharged well 20
Delivered elsewhere 1
Died 0
Of the 1,024 booked cases, 542 were primiparae and 482 were multiparae.