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 1941
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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CONSULTANT OBSTETRICIANS.
The services of a Consultant Obstetrician was requested by a
General Practitioner on one occasion (i.e. apart from the
Maternity Home).
MIDVIVES ACTS, 1902 - 1936
No. of Notices of Intention to Practice, January, 1941 22
" " " " " " " during 1941 11
Total 33
No. of Midwives ceasing to practice during 1941 10
" " " practising at the end of 1941 23
There was no change in the arrangements for the employment
or subsidy of midwives by the Council.
Non-medical supervision of Municipal Midwives has been carried
out by the Assistant Matron at the Maternity Hospital.
The following table shows the work done by midwives (including those employed at Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital) during 1941:-
| No. of confinements attended as a Midwife | 914 |
| " " " " " "Maternity Nurse | 117 |
| " " Medical aid notices sent | 381 |
| " " notifications of deaths | 8 |
| " " twin births notified | 6 |
| " " stillbirths notified | 6 |
| " " notifications of liability to be a source of infection | 1 |
| " " " " laying out of a dead body | - |
| " " " " artificial feeding | 3 |
| " " " " disinfection | 2 |
The above table includes the following numbers with regard
to work done at Thorpe Coombe:-
Midwifery cases 571
Maternity cases 73
Medical Aid Notices 279
The conditions for which medical aid was summoned by midwives
in domiciliary practice have been summarised and were as follows: -
For complications during pregnancy:-
Albuminuria 4 Miscarriage 2
Abortion 1 Other conditions 9
16
For complications during labour:-
Delayed 1st.and 2nd.stage 11 Ante-partum haemorrhage 1
Perineal laceration 20 Retained placenta 2
Malpresentation 2 Abdominal pain 1
Post-partum haemorrhage 3 Other conditions 19
Total 59
For complications in regard to the infant:-
Prematurity and feebleness 3 Cyanosis 2
Discharging eyes 10 Other conditions 12
27
Details of medical aid notices issued by midwives employed
at Thorpe Coombe are given in the Maternity Hospital report.
31.