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
West Ham 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.
Puerperal Fever.
Number of cases notified in 1932, 17; all of whom were West Ham residents:—
| At home | In hospital | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recovered | Died | |||
| Confined | 13 | 4 | 10 | 7 |
| Treated | 2 | 15 | ||
Number of cases notified in 1932, 48; of whom 36 were resident in West Ham. The remaining 12 occurred in patients confined in institutions in the Borough, but normally non-resident in West Ham.
| At home | In hospital | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recovered | Died | |||
| Confined | 27 | 21 | 45 | 3* |
| Treated | 16 | 32 | ||
* Of whom one was notified twice.
Arrangements are in force whereby the patient with her baby
can be admitted immediately to hospital for treatment if so required.
The doctor in attendance on the patient may also obtain,
through the Medical Officer of Health, the services of a consultant
obstetric surgeon who visits the patient at her home. The Council
retain the services of three consulting obstetricians for this purpose.
A report is sent to the Medical Officer of Health by the
Consultant following his examination of the patient, and arrangements
are made to assist the doctor to carry out the advice of the
specialist.
The Health Visitor visits the home of the patient weekly until
she is satisfactory or the case is completed.
Home nursing of cases of Puerperal Fever and Pyrexia is
carried out by the Nurses from the several District Nursing
Associations in the Borough.
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
The infantile mortality rate for 1982 is 71.0 per 1,000
births, as compared with 62.6 per 1,000 in 1931. For the great
towns the rate is 69.0, and for England and Wales, 65.0 per
1,000 births.
The total number of deaths under one year was 358, of which
215 occurred in male infants and 143 in female infants. Of the
total number, 340 were amongst legitimate infants, the remaining
deaths, viz., 18, being illegitimate infants.
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