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
Shoreditch 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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90
MATERNITY WORK.
Ante-natal Supervision.
The ante-natal work which is carried out under the control of the Borough
Council may be divided broadly into three groups—(a) home visiting by health
visitors; (b) medical examinations and supervision at ante-natal clinics held at
the Model Welfare Centre; and (c) medical examinations and supervision at the antenatal
clinic connected with the Shoreditch School for Mothers.
(a) Home visiting.—This is carried out by the health visitors mainly as an
adjunct to an examination of pregnant women by a doctor at one of the ante-natal
clinics. In addition certain women whose confinement is to be conducted by the
municipal midwife are visited by her during their pregnancies.
The municipal midwife also visits expectant mothers who are to be confined by
students of St. Bartholomew's Hospital under her supervision (see page 92).
The following table shows the number of mothers who were attended by the health visitors for a number of years. The table also gives the total visits made to these patients each year:—
| 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of individuals visited | 641 | 619 | 592 | 641 | 631 | 568 | 636 | 456 | 805 | 706 | 842 |
| Total number of visits paid | 1,200 | 1,109 | 1,045 | 1,156 | 1,215 | 1,011 | 1,075 | 998 | 1,573 | 1,597 | 1,958 |
| Average No. of visits per individual | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
In connection with the above table it is interesting to note that in the last four
years there has been an appreciable increase in the average number of attendances
per individual.
(b) and (c) Medical examinations and supervision at the ante-natal clinics.—At
the present time four ante-natal clinics are held—three at the Model Welfare Centre
and one at the School for Mothers, 28, Herbert Street. At these clinics the most
modern methods of supervision are constantly employed and facilities are available
for radiological examination where necessary.
During the year 632 expectant mothers attended at the ante-natal clinics and
2,156 attendances were made in all. This represents an increase of 45 individuals
and 90 total visits on the figures for 1935. The average attendance per individual
works out at 3.41 visits.