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
Richmond upon Thames 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]
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Visits by Domiciliary Midwives
| A total of 10,438 visits were made by midwives as follows:— Ante-natal | 2,094 |
| During labour | 345 |
| Nursing, following domiciliary confinement | 1,741 |
| Nursing, following institutional discharge | 3,741 |
| Home conditions reports | 762 |
| Others | 1,755 |
| Total | 10,438 |
Notification of intention to practise
Under the rules of the Central Midwives Board, 13 midwives notified their intention
to practise within the Borough. Twelve of these were the Council's domiciliary midwives,
the other a domiciliary midwife practising privately.
Medical Aid
Medical aid was required for 28 patients as follows:—
| During Pregnancy | Infant | In Labour | Puerperium | |||
| Mild toxaemia 1 | Sticky eyes | 3 | Premature labour | Pyrexia | 3 | |
| Thrush Feeding problems | 1 | with retained placenta | 1 | Engorged breasts | 2 | |
| 1 | Delay in labour (1st staee) | 5 | Dysuria | 1 | ||
| Delay in labour (2nd stage) | 2 | Perineal infection | 1 | |||
| Foetal distress | 1 | |||||
| Ruptured perineum | 5 | |||||
| Post-partum haemorrhage | 1 | |||||
Maternity Liaison Committee
As Medical Officer of Health, I am a member of the Maternity Services Liaison
Committee, Catchment Area IV, whose purpose is to discuss midwifery problems of
hospital, family doctors and the local authority department.
HOME NURSING SERVICE
Home Nursing (Day)
The home nursing service provides nursing care for patients in their own homes or,
in the case of district nurses attached to family doctor practices in the doctor's surgery.
The types of care given are indicated in the table of statistics shown.
Home Nursing (Night)
This service, which commenced as a pilot scheme in August 1971, built up rapidly
and fully occupied the number of staff employed. The establishment of trained staff was
increased during the year, but the recruitment of district nurse assistants was slower than
had been anticipated. The majority of patients nursed were already receiving care from
the day staff, but a small number were referred during the night from casualty depart'
ments of local hospitals or from family doctors. The night sitters'in continue to work
under the supervision of the district nurse when more continuous care is required for a
patient. The Council also acts as agents for the Marie Curie Day and Night Nursing
Service and Area Grant Scheme.
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