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
Kingston upon Thames 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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3. maternity and child walfare.
(i) MIDWIFERY SERVICE.
(a) Midwifery Service (Surrey County Council).
The Midwifery Service is under the administrative
control and supervision of the County Medical Officer
of Health and can be divided into two main sections:-
Domiciliary Midwifery Service.
Institutional Midwifery Service.
At the end of 1947, there were five midwives in
the Borough who undertook confinements in the home. Complete
arrangements for medical assistance, and, if necessary,
admission to the Kingston County Hospital, were made by the
Surrey County Council,
Hospital treatment was provided mainly at the Kingston
County Hospital, but, if necessary, cases were transferred
to one of the other County Hospitals,
The following are the details cf the notifications of births (Kingston residents only) to the Medical Officer of Health by (a) Midwives, (b) General Practitioners and the Superintendent of Kingston County Hospital:-
| Births notified | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No, notified by Midwives | 158 | 153 | 132 | 250 | 343 |
| No. notified by General Practitioners and Medical Superintendent, Kingston County Hospital | 506 | 408 | 498 | 569 | 537 |
| Total | 664 | 561 | 630 | 819 | 880 |
The figure of 880 notified births shows a marked
increase on the figure for the previous years, and may
prove to be a peak figure.