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Thus, I think without fear of contradiction, we can say that in this area we have one of
the most complete schemes, if not the most complete, in the country for ensuring the safety of
our parturient women.
Maternal deaths are investigated by the Medical Officer of Health as far as possible, in conjunction
with the medical practitioner in attendance, and the report is made on the prescribed form
to the Maternal Mortality Committee of the Ministry of Health.
The maternal mortality rate is based on the number of deaths of mothers per 1,000 live
and still births. The number of live and still births during the year was 1,518. The incidence
of deaths of mothers following confinements in 1937, was 5 mothers died out of 1,518 or 3.29
per 1,000.
The rates for the previous years were 1934—2.93; 1935—4.0; 1936—1.95.
The rate for England and Wales was 3.11.
The rate for 1937 which was 3.29, is higher than for 1936. The causes of death were
as follows:—
1. Post Partum Haemorrhage following an abortion (26 weeks).
2. Pulmonary Embolism, Thrombosis, Pregnancy.
3. Septicaemia, Puerperal Fever, Stillbirth.
4. Pyaemia, Abortion.
5. Eclampsia.
Four died in Institutions, and one at home.
Although there is no Municipal Maternity Home included in the foregoing arrangements
made by the Borough Council, there are 78 maternity beds at the West Middlesex County Hospital
providing a service which would otherwise become the duty of the Borough Council.
CONVALESCENT TREATMENT.
As before, there have arisen a few cases where the Ante-Natal Specialist particularly has
recommended that the mother be sent away, and also where post-natally the mother requires to be
sent away for her health, and provision must be made to take the child.
So far these cases have been dealt with satisfactorily, but with the increasing number of
mothers now to be dealt with, the demand for convalescent treatment will, undoubtedly, increase,
and further provision for this form of treatment will, no doubt, have to be considered as time
goes on.
DENTAL CLINIC.
The following is from the Supervisory Dental Surgeon's Report for the year :—
MATERNITY & CHILD WELFARE DENTAL SCHEME, 1937.
The 1937 "Looking Backwards" on this section of our Clinic labours, in brief, has been
a success, and the seeds so laboriously planted in the years that have sped away are beginning to
bear fruit, which in "looking forward " we hope will give an abundant and rich harvest in the
field of service to the Mother, and least among us—The Child.
The staff have been diligent in their duties.
I know of no branch of our work, that has more thrilling scope than the study of the Child,
but here is not the place to dilate upon the many characteristics that enable a Child to instinctively
draw out of us that best and last ounce of effort to bring relief and a smiling face to it, in its hour
of need.
To the Mothers, there must be given a large meed of praise for many points; one particularly—their
determination to see their children, often unlike themselves, obtain every service our
Clinics can offer. A Dental Officer has not always an easy task, however, to allay the anxieties of
the Mother towards his well meaning intentions.
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