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Reports on the Willesden Maternity Hospital by Mr. Arnold Walker, F.R.C.S., the Council's Consultant
Obstetrician, appear 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.
126 Expectant Mothers booked for confinement in the Central Middlesex County Hospital were referred
to the Willesden Health Centres for Ante-natal care in 1941, and 465 in 1942.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—24 cases were notified in 1941. 1 proved fatal, the death being classed as an
incidental death due to Epilepsy. 37 cases were notified in 1942.
Maternal Mortality.— During 1941 there were 3 deaths classed to pregnancy and child-bearing—
2 to Puerperal Sepsis, and 1 to other puerperal causes.
The puerperal mortality rate from Sepsis was therefore,, 1.11 per 1,000 registered total births.
The total puerperal mortality rate was 1.66 per 1,000 registered total births.
During 1941 there were, in addition, 2 maternal deaths from non-puerperal causes. There was no
maternal death from criminal abortion.
The total maternal mortality from all causes excluding criminal abortion, was thus 2.77 per 1,000
registered total births.
The total maternal mortality from all causes including criminal abortion was 2.77 per 1,000 registered
total births.
During 1942 there were 6 deaths classed to pregnancy and child-bearing—1 to puerperal sepsis and
5 to other puerperal causes.
The puerperal mortality rate from Sepsis was therefore 0.38 per 1,000 registered total births.
The total puerperal mortality rate was 2 28 per 1,000 registered total births.
During 1942 there were in addition 2 maternal deaths from non-puerperal causes. There was no
maternal death from criminal abortion.
The total maternal mortality from all causes, excluding criminal abortion, was thus 3 04 per 1,000
registered total births.
The total maternal mortality from all causes, including criminal abortion, was 3.04 per 1,000 registered
total births.
Sterilised Accouchement Sets.—These sets are supplied in accordance with the arrangements stated in
my Annual Report for 1930, p. 10.
During 1941, 210 were supplied free, 26 at full cost and 139 at part cost— a total of 375.
During 1942, 365 were supplied free, 105 at full cost and 246 at part cost— a total of 716.
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. No such consultations
were paid for in 1941 or 1942.
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 Anaesthetist.— 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 fees were
paid in 1941 or 1942.
Home Helps.— The Council provided the services of home helps in connection with 109 confinement
cases in 1941 and 169 in 1942.
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. 5 cases were inquired into during
1941 and 6 during 1942.
Hospital Treatment of Children under 5 Years of Age.
Treatment for children suffering from Marasmus and the operative treatment of enlarged tonsils and
adenoids continued to be available at the Willesden Municipal Hospital throughout 1941 and 1942. In 1941,
39 children were under treatment for Marasmus and 65 for enlarged tonsils and adenoids and Mastoid Disease.
4 of the children suffering from Marasmus died. Children were admitted to hospital to a limited extent for
orthopaedic conditions.
In 1942, 42 children were under treatment for Marasmus and 108 for enlarged tonsils and adenoids. 4 of
the children suffering from Marasmus died. Children were admitted to hospital to a limited extent for
orthopaedic conditions.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.— The number of cases of this disease notified in 1941 was 8, as against 9 in
1940. This gives a case rate of 4.6 per 1,000 registered live births. A district midwife attended at the
confinement in 5 cases, and 3 cases were born in hospital. Treatment was obtained at a hospital in 5 cases
and from a private doctor at home in 3 cases. Complete recovery with unimpaired vision occurred in 6 cases.
In 2 cases the patients removed from the district and no further information was obtainable.
In 1942, 8 cases were notified, giving a case rate of 3T per 1,000 registered live births. A district
midwife attended the confinement in 4 cases, 3 cases were born in hospital and 1 was attended by a private
doctor at home. Treatment was obtained at a hospital in 4 cases, at the Municipal Health Centre in 1 case
and from a private doctor in 3 cases. Complete recovery with unimpaired vision occurred in 7 case3. In
1 case the patient removed from the district and no further information was obtainable.
Cases of inflammation of or discharge from the eyes of infants or of cases of ophthalmia neonatorum
entering Willesden after notification elsewhere are also visited by the Health Nurses.