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It is to be noted that in 1944 many mothers desiring institutional confinement were unable to obtain beds.
346 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 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. 336 such
reports were supplied in 1944.
291 Expectant Mothers booked for confinement in the Central Middlesex County Hospital were referred to
the Willesden Health Centres for Ante-Natal care in 1944.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—68 cases were notified in 1944.
Maternal Mortality.— During 1944 there were 6 deaths classed to pregnancy and child-bearing—1 to
Puerperal Sepsis, a self-induced abortion, and 5 to other puerperal causes.
The puerperal mortality rate from Sepsis was therefore 036 per 1,000 registered total births.
The total puerperal mortality rate was 2.17 per 1,000 registered total births.
During 1944 there was, in addition, 1 maternal death from non-puerperal causes.
The total maternal mortality from all causes, including criminal abortion, was 2.53 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 1944, 227 were supplied free, 199 at full cost and 313 at part cost—a total of 739.
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 1944.
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 1944.
Home Helps.— The Council provided the services of home helps in connection with 72 confinement cases
in 1944. Great difficulty was experienced in finding women willing to undertake this work and some mothers in need
of home helps were unable to obtain them
Maternal Mortality Investigations.— The Council have 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 1944.