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Hospital Confinements.—During 1943, 999 women were confined in the Willesden Maternity Hospital. 362
births of Willesden residents were notified from outside Institutions—53 from St. Mary's Hospital, 35 from Queen
Charlotte's Hospital, 22 from Middlesex Hospital, 15 from Paddington Hospital, 13 from University College Hospital,
and smaller numbers from other hospitals, 102 from a Nursing Home and smaller numbers from other Nursing
Homes. These, together with some 519 in the Central Middlesex County Hospital, are approximately 69 per cent. of
the births belonging to Willesden.
It is to be noted that in 1943 many mothers desiring institutional confinement were unable to obtain beds.
534 applicants for the Willesden Maternity Hospital alone had to be refused. Some of these obtained beds in other
hospitals, some solved their difficulty by registering for evacuation in the last month of pregnancy, and some had to
be confined at home.
The following table shows the domiciliary and institutional confinements:—

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. 461 such
reports were supplied in 1943.
371 Expectant Mothers booked for confinement in the Central Middlesex County Hospital were referred
to the Willesden Health Centres for Ante-Natal care in 1943.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—64 cases were notified in 1943.
Maternal Mortality.—During 1943 there were 3 deaths classed to pregnancy and child-bearing—1 to
Puerperal Sepsis, a self-induced abortion, and 2 to other puerperal causes.
The puerperal mortality rate from Sepsis was therefore, 0.37 per 1,000 registered total births.
The total puerperal mortality rate was 1.10 per 1,000 registered total births.
During 1943 there were, in addition, 3 maternal deaths from non-puerperal causes.
The total maternal mortality from all causes including criminal abortion was 2.20 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 1943, 267 were supplied free, 170 at full cost and 294 at part cost—a total of 731.
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 1943.
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 1943.
Home Helps.—The Council provided the services of home helps in connection with 144 confinement cases
in 1943.