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combat the nation-wide gastro-enteritis incidence which affected
both mothers and infants so acutely during the year 1946.
This disease continued to cause some anxiety during the
first part of the year, but finally subsided, and after early July
no further cases occurred.
The infant mortality due to this disease for the year 1947
was 3 (an incidence of 1 per cent.), which occurred in the
early part of the year.
ANTE-NATAL CLINICS. The ante-natal clinics were
well attended during the year. The number of ante-natal cases
needing admission on medical grounds continues to increase
each year. The number of cases admitted for various conditions
complicating pregnancy during the year 1947 was 352, or
approximately 25 per cent. of the total number of admissions—
1,432—admitted to the Maternity Unit, compared with 265 for
2,159 admissions for the year 1946.
As the ante-natal clinic attached to Forest Gate Hospital
is of a consultative nature and a large amount of abnormal
midwifery is dealt with, it is expected that these figures will
increase year by year, and it is hoped that, with the opening of
the extended Maternity Unit in the near future, the problem of
bed accommodation for the proper treatment of these cases will
not be so acute.
POST-NATAL CLINICS. During the year these clinics
have been well attended, and the advice and treatment given by
the medical staff is much appreciated by the patients. The
attendance by mothers who are delivered in this Hospital and
are instructed to return 6 weeks after the birth of their baby
for a routine check-up is approximately 50 per cent. This
attendance figure compares favourably with similar clinics at
other hospitals.
It is hoped that this attendance figure will become larger
as the mothers get to understand the importance and the need
for this post-natal examination.
GYNAECOLOGICAL TREATMENT. The clinic for
gynaecological cases dealt with a considerable number of cases
during the year. This clinic is being developed, and it is hoped
to establish a complete unit in the near future.
OPERATIONS. Thirty-five major operations were performed
during the year.
CONFINEMENTS. Of the 1,362 confinements,
750 were Primigravidae
612 were Multigravidae
The following table shows the number of admissions and
confinements at Forest Gate Hospital for a 10-year period—
1938-1947:—
48