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
Tottenham 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]
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Care of the Premature Infant.
| Number of Premature Infants. | Stillborn. | Live Births. | Sets of Twins. | Alive after first month | Alive after 1 year. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the District | 56 | 6 | 50 | 2 | 46 | 46 |
| Born in Hospitals | 80 | 4 | 76 | 7 | 68 | 66 |
| Totals | 136 | 10 | 126 | 9 | 114 | 112 |
Causes of Death.
(1) Under one month—
At home Prematurity, 3; Pneumonia, 1; Total, 4.
In hospitals: Atelectasis, 2; Asphyxia, 1; Prematurity, 2;
Pneumonia, 2; Marasmus, 1; Total, 8.
(2) Under one year:—
At home: Nil.
In hospitals : Broncho-pneumonia and Whooping Cough, 1;
Accidental, following a fall, 1.
All municipal midwives are specially trained in the care of the
premature infant, and on notification, the non-medical supervisor
is consulted as to continuance of care in the home. Special cots are
made available by the department for use in the home, or if considered
necessary the premature infant is conveyed to hospital by
special arrangements made with the North Middlesex Hospital.
Following up of premature infants is continued throughout the
first year of life by home visits of the Health Visitor, and special
attention given to maintenance of breast feeding.
(II) Home Nursing.
This work has been carried out with the utmost efficiency by
the Queen's Institute of District Nursing, whose modern headquarters
and nurses' home is situated in Bruce Grove. The resident
staff comprises a Lady Superintendent and six nurses. Management
is vested in a local committee which includes local authority representatives.
The number of individual cases attended during the
year was 976, with a total of 21,640 home visits.