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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Municipal Midwife.
The municipal midwife was appointed in 1931 for the purpose of attending those
expectant mothers in the Borough who apply for her services (municipal cases); she
also attends the confinements and acts as maternity nurse in cases conducted in
Shoreditch by medical students from St. Bartholomew's Hospital. The full fee for
municipal cases is 25s. for the first child and 21s. for other children, and the Council
has approved a comprehensive scheme under which these charges can be remitted
in whole or in part to those whose income falls below a certain scale.
It will be seen from the table below that the expansion of this work necessitated
extra assistance. A temporary additional midwife was appointed on March 18th,
and, with slight breaks she continued in the Council's employment throughout the
year.
The following table shows the number of cases attended by students from St. Bartholomew's Hospital and the municipal midwife since the inception of this service:-
| 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35 | 55 | 41 | 75 | 136 | |
| - | 202 | 148 | 169 | 440 | 507 | |
| * | 60 | 46 | 40 | 46 | 41 | |
| * | 6 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 2 | |
| 7 | 91 | 81 | 57 | 38 | 30 | |
| - | 394 | 350 | 286 | 246 | 185 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| *No figures available. | ||||||
The Council receives 15s. from St. Bartholomew's Hospital for every case in which
the municipal midwife acts as maternity nurse in the manner described.
Places of Confinement.
Of the 1,271 confinements which occurred during 1936, 686, or 54.0 per cent.,
took place in institutions, and 585, or 46.0 per cent., in the homes of the women
concerned.