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45
The average number of patients in the Ward Blocks per day during 1944
was 28.75 and the average length of stay of patients was 15.40 days.
In 53 of the 665 confinements the patient had been previously admitted
for varying periods of observation, being subsequently re-admitted for the
confinement.
Of the 665 confinements there were:—
(а) 356 cases of first confinement.
(b) 309 cases having their second or subsequent confinement.
(c) fO oases living in 2 rooms or less (38 being first confinements).
(d) 92 cases living in 3 rooms (50 being first confinements).
57 cases (or 8.6 per cent.) were delivered by means of forceps, 12
following surgical induction; 1 of the infants was stillborn.
In addition, labour was surgically induced in 64 other cases; 3 of the
infants were stillborn.
The neo-natal death-rate of babies born in the Ward Blocks for the
five years 1940 to 1944, was 2.09 per cent. compared with 2.0 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 1940-1944 was 1.91 per cent.
The infant mortality rate of children born in the Ward Blocks of the
Maternity Home for the five years 1940-1944 was 29.8 per 1,000 births, as
compared with 34.5 born in their own homes. The figure of 34.5 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 15 stillbirths in the Ward Blocks.
15 cases were notified as suffering from Puerperal Pyrexia. 9 of these
cases and 10 other patients were removed to the Isolation Hospital.
Two babies had Pemphigus when born and were removed to the Ilford
Isolation Hospital. Seven other babies were also sent to the Ilford Isolation
Hospital for the following reasons:—
(1) Blocked lachrymal duct and Pyodermia; (2) Follicular Dermatitis;
(3) ? Fracture of right Parietal bone; (4) Haemorrhagia Neonatorum; (5)
Pustules on face; (6) Septic Forceps mark; (7) Staphylococcal Conjunctivitis.
Special visits were made by the Consulting Obstetrician or his Deputy
to 31 oases in the Ward Blocks as follows:—
To perform Caesarean section operations 13
To perform other operations 13
For consultations 5
The maternal mortality rate for the Ward Blocks of the Home for the
ten years from 1935 to 1944 is 1.22 per 1,000 births, as compared with the
maternal mortality rate in the district generally of 3.19, the rate in each
case being calculated on the total live births.
Training op Pupil Midwives.—As mentioned in my Report for 1944
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.
22 Pupil Midwives commenced their training during 1944. 8 of these
and 7 of the 11 who commenced in 1943 passed Part 1 Examination in 1944.
Gas and Air Analgesia.—Two Hospital Model Walton Minnitt Gas Air
Machines have been provided for the purpose of producing analgesia during
labour. Gas and air was administered to 281 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.
Three of the staff qualified and obtained the Certificate during 1944.