London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bromley 1942
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]
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18
stitutes a record number. The chief factors contributing
to the increase are more births and young wives of
serving men having no established homes, there being
a scarcity of home attention during the lying-in period.
In addition to the foregoing figure, the Bromley,
Chislehurst and District Maternity Hospital admitted
325 private patients, and Nursing Homes 161. There
were many non-residents included in these figures of
private patients.
Of the 325 patients admitted to the Maternity Hospital:—
| (a) Cases delivered by midwives | 208 |
| (b) Cases delivered by doctors | 117 |
| (c) Expectant mothers admitted for treatment | 16 |
| No. of cases notified as:— | |
| (a) Puerperal Pyrexia | 3 |
| (b) Ophthalmia Neonatorum | — |
| (c) Pemphigus Neonatorum | — |
| Number of infant deaths:— | |
| (a) Stillborn | 12 |
| (b) Within 10 days of birth | 2 |
| Number of maternal deaths | — |
Puerperal Pyrexia.—7 cases were notified during
1942 and all received institutional treatment. There
was no mortality.
POST-NATAL SERVICES.
Health Visitors. Home Visiting.
6,853 home visits were made during 1942—an
increase of 1,232 over the figures for 1941. Having
regard to the large increase in minor ailment treatments
at the School Clinics, the additional work in
diphtheria immunisation, and the demands of work to be
done at the Welfare Centres, it is surprising, but nevertheless
very commendable, that the Health Visitors have
been able to maintain a high figure of visits. 82 per
cent, of births during the year received a primary visit
and an average approximating to 2.4 visits to infants
wilder one year was accomplished.