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

East Ham 1932

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]

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10
Maternal Mortality.
The maternal mortality rate was 3.6 per 1,000 total (live and
still) births, although slightly lower than that of the previous year
(3.77), is, in my opinion, still too high. There has been a tendency
to increase in the maternal mortality rate during my term of
office, in spite of the fact that every effort has been made to ensure
that all mothers should have every facility afforded them before
and after the birth of the child. There is no doubt that efficient
and monthly ante-natal examinations would do much to reduce
the risk of fatal consequences of child-bearing, and this service
is offered to all the mothers of the Borough.
As this will be my last report, it is interesting to record here
the powers the Council have to aid Maternal Welfare in the area
and what services are in force in the Borough.

Table: The Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918, empowers a Local Authority to :—

The Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918, empowers a Local Authority to :—

1. Appoint Health VisitorsA staff of Health Visitors is employed by the Council.
2. Establish Ante-natal and Post-natal Clinics.An Ante-natal Clinic is held weekly and mothers are seen after confinement at the special clinics.
3. Assistance to Midwives :—
(a) Provision of sterilised maternity outfits free or at cost price.Provided.
(6) Subsidies to midwives' (where necessary).Not provided.
(c) Appointment of municipal midwives„ ,, (see No. 4).
(d) Payment of part fees to mid-wives for patients who cannot cannot afford full fee"
(e) " Refresher" courses for practising midwives„
4. Maternity Homes or Beds in a Maternity Hospital for :—The provision of a Maternity Home (with a consultant) has been approved by the Council with an isolation block for puerperal sepsis. Attached to the Home would be a Municipal Midwife Service and extension of Ante-natal and Postnatal work. Cases in the meantime are sent to Forest Gate Hospital and other hospitals in the neighbourhood.
(a) Complicated cases
(6) Patients where home circumstances are unsuitable for confinement
(c) Ante-natal supervision
(d) Treatment of puerperal sepsis
5. Home Helps .........Provided.
6. Provision of Milk, etc.Provided.