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
Walthamstow 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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109
The total accommodation of the Home when these extensions
are completed will be :—
Lying-in beds, 47. Isolation beds, 6. Total, 53.
Staff.—An additional Staff Nurse and an additional part-time
cleaner were authorised during the year.
General.—(a) Maternal Mortality.—Two maternal deaths (for
which clinical particulars are given in the report) occurred amongst
patients delivered in the Home. One occurred after transfer. The
following table sets out the position since the Home was opened:—
| Year. | Deliveries. | Live Births. | Maternal Deaths. | Cause. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | 660 | 665 | 2 | Adherent placenta |
| Puerperal septicaemia (a) | ||||
| 1935 | 646 | 631 | 2 | Eclampsia (b) |
| Non-malignant tumour (c) | ||||
| 1934 | 229 | 225 | 1 | Puerperal eclampsia |
| Totals | 1,535 | 1,521 | 5* |
*Representing a rate of 3.26 per 1,000 deliveries and 3.29 per
1,000 live births and not excluding (c), which is excluded by the
Registrar-General and classified as associated with pregnancy and
child-bearing. Case (a) died after transfer to another hospital, and
case (b) was an unbooked emergency admission from another area.
Excluding cases (a) and (c), the net maternal mortality rate
since the Home opened was 1.97 per 1,000 live births.
(b) Form M .C. W. 96A (Ministry of Health).
1. Name and address of Institution—Thorpe Coombe Maternity
Home, 714, Forest Road, Walthamstow, E.17.
2. Number of maternity beds in the Institution (exclusive of
isolation and labour beds)—35.
3. Number of maternity cases admitted during the year—769
(including ante- and post-natal cases).
4. Average duration of stay—13.4 days.
5. Number of cases delivered by:—
(a) Midwives—584.
(b) Doctors—76.
6. Number of cases in which medical assistance was sought by
a midwife in emergency—365.
1. Number of cases notified as:—
(a) Puerperal fever—Nil.
(b) Puerperal pyrexia—25.