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
Ilford 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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Supervision of the midwives practising on the district, including regular
inspections by the Medical Supervisor of Midwives, was carried out as in
previous years, and general supervision, in accordance with the Rules of
the Central Midwives Board, was exercised over the midwives practising
at the Ilford Maternity Hospital.
Suspension from Practice.—No Midwives were suspended from practice
during the year.
Medical Aid.—Medical aid was sought in 2 instances where the infant
was found to have inflamed or discharging eyes. The condition of the
eyes cleared satisfactorily.
Domiciliary Midwifery Service.—At the end of the year there were
8 Domiciliary Midwives employed by the County Council whole-time and
2 part-time, in addition to the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent.
During the year 492 cases were attended. In 437 cases the midwives
were engaged to attend as midwives and in 55 cases as maternity nurses.
A Doctor was called in to 73 of the 437 cases in which a midwife
had been engaged.
Of the infants born there were 7 stillbirths. In all of these cases the
midwife was engaged as a midwife.
There were 6 deaths of infants during the first year of life where the
birth had been attended by a Domiciliary Midwife. 2 of these occurring
during the first two weeks of life.
Notices were received from the Domiciliary Midwives stating that
artificial feeding had been substituted in respect of 40 infants attended
by them during 1955.
During 1955 Ante-Natal Clinics conducted by the Domiciliary Mid-wives were held weekly at Valentines Mansion and fortnightly at Mayesbrook Clinic and Manford Way Clinic. The following is a summary of the attendances at these Clinics during the year:—
| Valentines Clinic | Mayesbrook Clinic | Manford Way Clinic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First attendances | 304 | 100 | 89 |
| Subsequent attendances | 750 | 289 | 256 |
| Totals | 1,054 | 389 | 345 |
| Number of sessions | 48 | 22 | 26 |
| Average attendance at each session | 22 | 18 | 13 |
In addition 2,245 home ante-natal visits were made during the year.
The scheme continues whereby the doctor and the midwife have a
consultation about their patient on three occasions (at specified intervals)
during the pregnancy. The examinations take place at the patient's home,
the doctor's surgery or at the Local Health Authority's Clinic, as mutually
agreed, but in practice the joint consultation is held in the majority of
cases in the doctor's surgery.