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 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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103
For complications in regard to the infant: —
Asphyxia 1
Jaundice 2
Inflamed eyes 2
Prematurity and feebleness 1
Cyanosis 2
Other conditions 3
Total 11
The table below shows the number of visits carried out by the District and Home Nurse/Midwives :—
| Ante-Natal Examinations | Deliveries | Lyingin Visits | Total Visits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patients' Homes | Midwife's House | Clinic | Mid. | Mat. | |||
| District Midwives | 1,033 | 423 | 849 | 174 | 138 | 3,864 | 6,481 |
| Home Nurse Midwives | 72 | 33 | 710 | 46 | 25 | 553 | 1,439 |
| Totals | 1,105 | 456 | 1,559 | 220 | 163 | 4,417 | 7.920 |
Two midwives in private practice undertook 14 cases as midwives,
and 25 cases as maternity nurses.
Gas and Air Analgesia.—The Ambulance Service provided
transport facilities for gas and air apparatus.
A total of 537 patients on the District received gas and air
analgesia, representing a percentage of 87.98 of District confinements.
Maternity Medical Services.—In November, a meeting was
convened of all doctors undertaking Maternity Medical Services, in
order to improve co-operation with and from the district midwives,
and to ensure that the exact role of the doctor and the midwife in
acting as maternity nurse should be understood, and not least by
the patient.
Emergency Unit.—This Unit, stationed at Thorpe Coombe
Maternity Hospital, was called out to 5 Walthamstow cases during
1953.