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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.
Antf.-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
bv the Council's Health Visitors in connection with women who are to be confined in these hospitals. 857 such
requests were received in 1947.
624 Expectant Mothers booked for confinement in the Central Middlesex County Hospital were referred to
the Willesden Health Centres for Ante-Natal care in 1947.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—61 cases were notified in 1947.
Maternal Mortality.—During 1947 there were 5 deaths classed to pregnancy and child-bearing--there
was one case of post-abortive infection.
The puerperal mortality rate was 1-30 per 1,000 registered total births.
During 1947 there was one maternal death from non-puerperal causes.
The total maternal mortality from all causes, including criminal abortion, was therefore 1 • 56 per 1,000 registered
total births.
Sterilised Accouchement Sets.—-These sets are supplied in accordance with the arrangements stated in the
Annual Report for 1930, p. 10.
During 1947, 195 were supplied free, 369 at full cost and 425 at part cost—a total of 989.
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. One such consultation was
paid for in 1947.
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 1947.
Home Helps.—The Council provided the services of home helps in connection with 41 confinement cases in
1947. 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. 6 cases were inquired into during 1947.
Report on Connaught Hostel.
The above short-stay hostel was opened on September 2nd, 1946, and takes 12 children aged 0-5 years for
short-stay periods during the confinement or illness of the mother.
The total number of cases admitted to the hostel from 1st January to 31st December, 1947, was 123.
The average length of stay was 10-18 days.
Of the 123 children
(a) 58 were admitted because of the confinement of the mother ; and
(b) 65 were emergency cases, e.g., where the mother had been admitted to hospital for operation or where
the mother had been admitted to hospital suffering from nerve strain.
Medical Care.—The health of the children is under the supervision of a Medical Officer from Stonebridge
Health Centre, who visits weekly. Arrangements have also been made whereby a general practitioner is available
in a case of emergency when a Medical Officer from the Health Centre is not available.
Wherever possible, parents are advised to have their children inoculated against whooping cough and diphtheria
before admission to the hostel.
Staffing.—The staffing of the hostel has been a very big problem. Girls who would be quite happy to work in
a day nursery object to having to work week-ends and nigbt duty. The appointment, in January, 1947, of two resident
staff nurses relieved the situation.
This service has been a real boon to the mothers in the district, and has assisted them in regaining their
health. The service, however, requires extension as many children have had to be refused admission owing to
shortage of accommodation.