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
Harrow 1942
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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35
MATERNITY SERVICES.
ANTE-NATAL SUPERVISION.
Home Visiting.
During the year the health visitors paid a total of 1,648 visits to
expectant mothers, 1,160 being first visits.
Ante-natal Clinics.
The following summarises the work done at the clinics during the
year:
| Total number of expectant mothers attending the clinics | 2,765 |
| Total number of attendances by expectant mothers at all clinics | 12,720 |
| Percentage of total notified births (live and still) represented by the number of expectant mothers attending the clinics | 82 |
Consultant Ante-natal Clinic.
The consultant ante-natal clinic was held fortnightly throughout
the year. During the year 324 women made 524 attendances.
General Practitioner Ante-natal Scheme.
The same arrangements by which pregnant women can receive
ante-natal supervision by their own medical attendants was continued
last year. Again only a very limited use was made of the scheme, 14
patients being seen. Of this number, only one was an insured patient.
Two women attended for post-natal examination.
ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR CONFINEMENTS.
At Home.
1,188 confinements took place in the patients' own homes. Of these
894 were attended by midwives acting in their capacity as midwives,
and 294 by local midwives who had given notice of their intention to
practice, acting as maternity nurses.
Consultant Service.
During the year the consultant was summoned to five patients,
three of whom were in labour, one being subsequently admitted to
hospital under the care of the consultant. The other two patients
were suffering from puerperal pyrexia.
Arrangements were made during the year by which local practitioners
could obtain the assistance not only of the Council's Consultant
but also of the obstetric staff attached to the Redhill County Hospital.
Daily Minder Scheme.
Though publicity had been given at the end of 1941 to the daily
minder scheme no real advantage was taken of it. Towards the end
of last year the full scheme under which a guardian was to be subsidised
to the extent of 4s. per week was introduced. Up to the end of the
year very little action had been taken under it though it had been felt