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A report on the Willesden Maternity Hospital by Mr. Arnold Walker, F.R.C.S., the Council's
Consultant Obstetrician, appears later in this report.
Ante-Natal Work for Institutions not under the Council.—Requests are received
from the Middlesex County Council and from various London Hospitals for home visits to expectant
mothers, and for special reports by the Council's Health Visitors in connection with women who are
to be confined in these Hospitals.
122 such reports were supplied to London Hospitals and 318 to the Middlesex County Council
during the year.
305 Expectant Mothers booked for confinement in the Central Middlesex County Hospital
were referred to the Willesden Health Centres for Ante-natal care.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—40 cases were notified during the year. All recovered.
Maternal Mortality.—During 1939 there were 7 deaths classed to pregnancy and childbearing—2
to Puerperal Sepsis, and 5 to other puerperal causes.
The puerperal mortality rate from Sepsis was, therefore, 0.70 per 1,000 registered total births.
The total puerperal mortality rate was 2.49 per 1,000 registered total births.
During 1939 there was, in addition, 1 maternal death from non-puerperal causes. There
was no maternal death from criminal abortion.
The total maternal mortality from all causes excluding criminal abortion, was thus 2.84 per
1,000 registered total births.
The total maternal mortality from all causes including criminal abortion was 2.84 per 1,000
registered total births.
Sterilised Accouchment Sets.—These sets are supplied in accordance with the arrangements
stated in my Annual Report for 1930, p. 10.
During 1939, 579 were supplied free, 3 at full cost and 132 at part cost.
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. Seven such consultations were paid for in 1939.
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.
Provision of Anœsthetist.—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. No
such fee was paid in 1939.
Home Helps.—The Council provided the services of home helps in connection with 326 confinement
cases.
Convalescence.—Two mothers were sent away by the Council for a period of convalescence
after confinement.
Maternal Mortality Investigations.—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. Nine cases
were inquired into during 1939.
Hospital Treatment of Children under 5 Years of Age.
Treatment for children suffering from Marasmus continued to be available at the Willesden
Municipal Hospital throughout the year. The operative treatment of enlarged tonsils and adenoids
was discontinued on the outbreak of war in September but was resumed in January, 1940, when the
Council's Surgeon was free again to undertake this work. 45 children were under treatment for
Marasmus during the year and 62 for enlarged tonsils and adenoids, Mastoid Disease and Otitis
Media. Five of the children suffering from Marasmus died. The majority of children in hospital for
orthopaedic conditions were discharged on the outbreak of war but children have subsequently been
admitted to a limited extent.