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43
Supply of Sheets for Expectant Mothers.—In accordance with Circular
154/44 of the Ministry of Health of the 3rd November, 1944, women holding
RB2 expectant mother's ration books are eligible to purchase Utility Sheets
on priority dockets if the Midwife or Maternity nurse booked for the case
certifies that the woman is genuinely in need of additional sheets.
Up to the end of the year 21 dockets were issued by me to 9 expectant
mothers.
Maternal Mortality.—The total number of deaths due to childbirth
during the year was 7, which gives a maternal mortality rate i.e., number
of deaths per 1,000 live births of 2.52 (or 2.47 including stillbirths).
The causes of death were as follows:—Puerperal Sepsis—(1) died at
Oldchurch County Hospital, Romford; Septicaemia from infected criminal
abortion; Manslaughter; conviction on charge of using an instrument to
procure abortion. (2) Died at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Luton;
Acute obstruction; Plastic peritonitis; Ruptured ectopic gestation. Other
Puerperal causes—(1) Died at own home; Air embolus due to introduction
of fluid and air into uterine cavity; Self induced abortion. (2) Confined
and died at Maycroft Nursing Home, Woodford; Massive collapse of lungs;
Parturition. (3) Confined at and died at Oldchurch County Hospital,
Romford; Obstetric shock following Caesarean section operation for obstructed
labour; Toxaemia of pregnancy. (4) Confined at and died at Ilford Council
Maternity Home; Obstetric shock due to forceps delivery for obstructed
labour (full term child in rigor mortis). (5) Confined at and died at Ilford
Council Maternity Home; Cardiac failure due to ante-partum haemorrhage
due to placenta praevia.
MATERNITY HOME.
During 1944, 784 women were admitted into the Home (98 direct to the
Emergency Block and 686 to the Ward Blocks). 441 cases could not be
admitted during the year and other arrangements were made for their
confinement.
At the end of the year 368 cases had booked for future admission to
the Home.
The average number of patients in the Home per day during 1944 was
32.54 and the average length of stay of patients was 15.12 days.
Emergency Block.—129 cases were treated, 98 being admitted direct
to this Block and 31 being transferred from the Ward Blocks.
66 of these 98 cases had not been booked for admission to the Maternity
Home.
Ten of the 98 patients were admitted direct to the Emergency Block for
ante-natal treatment and were subsequently transferred to or re-admitted
to the Ward Blocks for confinement.
The average number of patients in the Emergency Block per day during
1944 was 3.79 (including cases transferred from the Ward Blocks) and the
average length of stay of patients admitted direct to this Block was 13.16
days.
62 patients were confined in the Emergency Block (52 admitted direct
to this Block and 10 transferred from the Ward Blocks). The 10 cases
mentioned above have been included in the figures for those confined in the
Ward Blocks. 36 of the 62 cases were first confinements and 26 were second
or subsequent confinements.
11 cases (or 17.7. per cent.) were delivered by means of forceps; 4 of
the infants were stillborn. In addition labour was surgically induced in
2 cases. 1 of the infants were stillborn and 1 died aged 1 week.
There were 9 deaths of infants born in the Emergency Block and
10 stillbirths.
Seven cases were notified as suffering from Puerperal Pyrexia. Three
of these cases and 15 other patients were removed to the Isolation Hospital.