London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Walthamstow 1948

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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87
HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION FOR CONFINEMENTS
The following numbers of confinements occurred at the
Institutions specified:—
1948 1947
Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital 1,183 1,253
Maternity Homes in Walthamstow 151 259
Mothers' Hospital Clapton 158 100
Other Maternity Hospitals and Homes 118 192
Totals 1,610 1,804
WALTHAMSTOW DISTRICT NURSING ASSOCIATION
AND HOME NURSING SERVICE
(In affiliation with the Queen's Institute of District Nursing)
The Superintendent, Miss C. A. Lee, S.R.N., S.C.M., reports
as follows:—
"I have again the pleasure of submitting an account of the
work undertaken by the Association, which up to July 5th,
1948, was a voluntary body undertaking for the Council a
portion of the Municipal Midwifery Service in addition to the
Home Nursing Service.
"The year has been an eventful one and an interesting
one.
"The change-over from a voluntary body to an official
one on July 5th was quite smooth,' and did not in any way
interfere with the work of the nurses and midwives. They
continue to give the same excellent service.
"I am fortunate in being able to get and keep a staff of
nurses and midwives which up to date has coped fairly successfully
with the work. The general work shows signs of
increasing quite considerably.
"As circumstances permit, I hope to increase the staff to
the ratio recommended by the Ministry of Health, vis., 17½
general nurses.
"The housing of extra staff will create a difficulty as 17
and 19 Carisbrooke Road are already full to capacity. The
re-opening of a Home at Highams Park would relieve the
tension and assist the nurses.
''The provision of at least another car (my car is already
being used entirely for a nurse to enable the work to be done)
would help also, as distances are very great.