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 1959
[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 1959 were 2,755 and of these 12% were born at home and 88% born in hospital.
| Domiciliary births within the Borough | 341 | 12% |
| Domiciliary births outside the Borough | 1 | |
| Hospital births within the Borough | 2,219 | 88% |
| Hospital births outside the Borough | 194 | |
| 2,755 |
There was an increase of 30 domiciliary births, but as there was also an increase
in the total number of births, the proportion born at home remains the same.
NUMBER OF LIVE BIRTHS IN MATERNITY UNITS IN THE BOROUGH
| Hospital | West Ham Residents | Total live births |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Gate | 900 | 2,190 |
| Plaistow Maternity | 833 | 1,190 |
| Queen Mary's | 486 | 925 |
| TOTAL: | 2,219 | 4,305 |
MIDWIVES ATTENDING DOMICILIARY CONFINEMENTS
| Service | Number (or equivalent number) of midwives on 31.12.59 | Number of live births |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal | 6 | 297 |
| Essex County Nurses Training Home | 2 (part time) | 44 |
| TOTAL: | 8 | 341 |
The midwife acted as a maternity nurse in 13 of the domiciliary confinements.
Medical aid was summoned in l66 cases. In 120 of these help was required for
the mother only, in 39 for the baby only, and in the remaining 7 cases help was summoned
on account of both mother and baby.
Cranbrook Report
The Maternity Services Committee, appointed by the Minister of Health in 1956
"to review the present organisation of the Maternity Services in England and Wales, to
consider what should be their content and to make recommendations" published a report
in June, 1959. This aroused much comment and discussion, which is still continuing at
various levels, both locally and nationally.
In November, the Council, having considered the report of the Medical Officer
of Health accepted the Health Committee's recommendations, which were as follows:-
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