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 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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Maternity Services.
Total live births notified as West Ham births during the year 1955 was 2,577 and of these 15% were born at home and 85% born in hospital.
| Domiciliary births within the Borough | 383 | 15% |
| Domiciliary births outside the Borough | 4 | |
| Hospital births within the Borough | 2,012 | 85% |
| Hospital births outside the Borough | 178 | |
| 2,577 |
Number of Live Births in Maternity Units in the Borough.
| Hospital | West Ham Residents | Total Live Births |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Gate | 856 | 1,558 |
| Plaistow Maternity | 803 | 1,051 |
| Queen Mary's | 353 | 664 |
| TOTAL: | 2,012 | 3,273 |
Midwives attending at Domiciliary Confinements
| Source | Number (or equivalent number) of midwives on 31.12.55. | Number of Live Births |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal | 7 * | 305 |
| Plaistow Maternity Hospital | Nil | 30 (to 13.2.55) |
| Essex County Nurses Training Home | 2 x | 42 |
| Silvertown & N.W.D N.A. | Nil | 5 (to 31.lO.55) |
| TOTAL: | 9 | 382 |
x These midwives undertake the training of pupils.
In 1 of the 383 live births in their own homes the midwife acted as maternity nurse.
One case was attended by the family doctor only, no midwife being present at this birth.
Medical Aid was summoned in 152 cases. In 106 of these help was required for the
mother only, in 40 help was required for the baby only, and in the remaining 6 cases help
was summoned on account of both mother and baby.
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