Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]
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EVACUATION CF EXPECTANT MOTHERS.
The Borough of Tottenham is a part of the Extra-Metropolitan
Evacuable Area and provisions were made, under the Government Evacuation
Scheme, for the evacuation of expectant mothers. When was
was declared the scheme for expectant mothers in Tottenham was
ready to be put into operation. About 300 expectant mothers in
the last month of pregnancy availed themselves of the opportunity
of being removed to zones of comparative safety.
The provision of transport and of suitable maternity homes
was undertaken by .the London County Council. The mothers trsvollod
in special coaches and were accompanied by Municipal Midwives,
fully equipped for any emergency, to maternity homes in reception
areas. .
Whenever possible ante.natal record cards were sent with the
mothers. After the birth of their babies some of the mothers returned
to Tottenham,. while others were billeted out in adjacent
reception areas. A few were transferred to other districts in
which their children of school age were billeted.
A further 160 expectant mothers, many with children under
five years of age, were evacuated by 'train with non.school parties.
These expectant mothers were accompanied by Health Visitors, (who
are also trained midwives), equipped with first aid and midwifery
bags, and were billeted in reception areas until nearly full term,
when they were transferred to suitable maternity homes, or were
attended by district midwive.s,
During their waiting period all were kept under the supervision
Of the Local Medical Officersof Health and their staffs of Health
Visitors and district midwives.
Additional evacuation arrangements were carried through without
a hitch and registration has,continued steadily until the
present time.. . . '
MIDWIFERY SERVICE MIDWIVES ACT, 1936.
A full report was given in my Annual Report for 1938. During
1939, the Municipal Midwifery Service consolidated its position as
an integral part of the Maternity and Child Welfare Services. On
the outbreak of war, many of our Municipal Midwives accompanied
expectant mothers to their destinations in reception areas, and
several were loaned to Maternity Homes at which these mothers were
confined. In spite of the evacuation of expectant mothers, 724
deliveries were carried out by the Municipal Midwifery Service in
Tottenham compared with 642 in 1938.
The Midwifery agreement for maternity cases with the District
Nursing Association became operative on 1st January, 1939.
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
The figures relating to this are not yet available.
DENTAL TREATMENT TO EXPECTANT & NURSING MOTHERS
&_CHILI lEN UNDER FIVE YEARS .
Figures for a complete year are available for the first time,
as under
Expectant Mothers treated 283
Nursing Mothers treated 71
Artificial Dentures Supplied; Free 53
At Part Cost 28
Children under 5 years of age; Consultations 214
Treatments 390
P.T.O.