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41
Forty-five cases (or 8.7 per cent.) were delivered by means of forceps,
11 following surgical induction; 1 of the infants was stillborn and 2 died
aged 40 minutes, and 15 minutes.
In addition, labour was surgically induced in 55 other cases; 1 of the
infants was stillborn.
The nco-natal death-rate of babies born in the Ward Blocks for the
five years 1939 to 1943, was 1.82 per cent, compared with 2.18 per cent, in
the district in general. The death-rate of babies who died before 14 days,
born in the Ward Blocks for the five years 1939-1943 was 1.62 per cent.
The infant mortality rate of children born in the Ward Blocks of the
Maternity Home for the five years 1939-1943 was 26.6 per 1,000 births, as
compared with 35.0 born in their own homes. The figure of 35.0 has been
arrived at after deduction of all deaths of infants born in the Maternity
Home, and is calculated on the total births in the district, excluding those
in the Maternity Home.
There were 14 stillbirths in the Ward Blocks.
Twenty-one cases were notified as suffering from Puerperal Pyrexia.
Six of these cases and five other patients were removed to the Isolation
Hospital.
One baby notified^as suffering from Pemphigus Neonatorum was removed
to the Isolation Hospital. Eight other babies were also sent to the
Isolation Hospital for the following reasons; (1) Abscess of face, (2), (3)
Finger sucking, (4) Impetigo, (5) Septic fingers, (6) Staphylococcal
conjunctivitis, (7), (8) Staphylococcal infection of eye.
Special visits were made by the Consulting Obstetrician or his Deputy
to 34 oases in the Ward Blocks as follows:—
To perform Caesarean section operations 6
To perform other operations 16
For consultations 12
There were no deaths of mothers admitted to the Emergency Block or
Ward Blocks of the Home during the year.
The maternal mortality rate for the Ward Blocks of the Home for the
ten years from 1934 to 1943 is 1. 49 per 1,000 births, as compared with the
maternal mortality rate in the district generally of 3.36, the rate in each
case being calculated on the total live births.
Training of Pcpil Midwives.—As mentioned in my Report for 1943
the Home has been approved by the Central Midwives Board as a Part 1
Training School for not less than ten pupil midwives in training at one time.
11 pupil midwives commenced their training at the end of September,
1943.
Gas and Air Analgesia.—A Hospital Model Walton Minnitt Gas Air
Machine has been provided for the purpose of producing analgesia during
labour. Gas and air was administered to 116 patients during the year.
The Home has been approved by the Central Midwives Board for the
purpose of providing instruction in the essentials of obstetric analgesia and
in the use of a recognised apparatus such as that provided at the Home.
OTHER MATERNITY HOSPITALS.
(a) Oldchurch County Hospital.—295 cases were admitted to Oldchurch
County Hospital during 1943. The fee payable to the Essex County
Council is at the rate of 14/- per day.
By arrangement, all Ilford cases found to be normal at the first antenatal
examination at the Oldchurch Hospital Clinic are referred to the
Ilford Ante-Natal Clinics for further examinations until the 36th week of
pregnancy. The cases are then referred to the Oldchurch Hospital Clinio
again and if still normal are referred again to the Ilford Clinics for examination
until the date due for confinement. If any abnormality develops
whilst under supervision at the Ilford Clinics the cases are referred to the
Oldchurch Hospital Clinic.