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because of the complication of a small pelvis, Cæsarean section was
performed, followed by blood transfusion; (6) post partum
haemorrhage—uterus emptied, bleeding vessels tied and blood
transfusion given; (7) uterine inertia and failed forceps—normal
delivery; (8) disproportion—normal delivery; (9) persistent
occipito-posterior presentation and disproportion—rotation, incision
of cervix and episiotomy, followed by normal delivery.
In an Institution.
806 births occurred in registered nursing homes in this district.
285 births to mothers from outside districts which occurred here
took place in nursing homes, four in private houses. Of these
806 confinements 716 were conducted by local practitioners, 84
by midwives and 358 by midwives acting as maternity nurses.
Notification of 1,367 births were received in respect of Harrow
mothers having taken place outside the district. Of these 1,170
were from hospitals, 77 from nursing homes, and 120 from private
houses. Of the patients confined in hospital outside the district
339 were delivered at Redhill County Hospital and 192 at Bushey
Maternity Hospital.
Of a total of 3,132 births, 1,433 occurred in the patients' own
homes, 521 in local nursing homes and 1,247 in hospitals or homes
outside the district. Some 1,768, or 56 per cent., therefore, of the
confinements took place in institutions either inside or outside the
district. During the year 35 patients were admitted to London
hospitals under the Council's arrangements.
Owing to the increase in maternity accommodation at the
Redhill County Hospital and its annexe at Bushey Heath, many
more confinements occurred in this institution than formerly. 450
women attending the local ante-natal clinics were referred to the
Redhill Hospital during the year with a view of their being admitted
there for their confinements. Of this number 125 were referred
on account of some medical condition, 93 because of domestic
circumstances, 191 because the applicants were primigravidæ and
41 merely because of the personal preference of the applicant.
Owing, no doubt, to the fact that, during the year, new beds,
which had not previously been booked, became available, most of
these women were accommodated, only seven being refused;
though a further 42 decided to make other arrangements, most of
these deciding to be confined at home, though a few arranged to
be admitted to other hospitals or nursing homes. The single
refusal of those who were recommended because of domestic
circumstances arranged to enter another hospital; four of those
whose applications for admission were based merely on personal
inclination were refused, all of them subsequently being confined
in their own homes. Of the two of those recommended for
admission on medical grounds who were refused, one was confined
at home, while the other was confined in another hospital.