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

Hackney 1930

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]

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Table: The clinics already provided have been fully utilised during the year and, as will be seen from the following tables there has been no diminution in the number of attendances of expectant mothers, despite the decrease in the number of births referred to earlier in the Report.

The clinics already provided have been fully utilised during the year and, as will be seen from the following tables there has been no diminution in the number of attendances of expectant mothers, despite the decrease in the number of births referred to earlier in the Report.

CENTRES.No. of times Centre open.No. of Expectant Mothers attending first visits.No. of repeated attendances at Centre.Total attendances .No. of examinations by Doctor.
1.The Lower Clapton104449108115301403
2.The Pedro Street51192437629411
3.The Grove Mission27108277385322
4.The Northwold Road51146393539464
5.*Eton Mission5888216304126
Totals291983240433872726

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* Voluntary Centre.

Table: The following figures relate to attendances and physical examinations at the ante-natal clinics during the past five years.

The following figures relate to attendances and physical examinations at the ante-natal clinics during the past five years.

Year.Primary attendances of expectant mothers.Total attendances.No. of physical examinations by Welfare Doctors.
192698022801966
192785122971807
192884823661880
192993131052459
193098333872726

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This table indicates that the ideal of securing the ante-natal
observation of every expectant mother is far from consummation at
present. However, the Council and Ministry of Health have
approved a considerable advance in this direction by adopting my
report and authorising the additional expenditure which is set
out below:—
MINISTRY OF HEALTH MEMO. 156/M.C.W. AND CIRCULAR 1167.
As requested by the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, I have prepared
the following statement with regard to Circular 1167 and Memo. 156/M.C.W.
of the Ministry of Health, dated the 11th December, 1930, regarding maternal
mortality and ante-natal services.
The Ministry point out that in practically one-half of the total deaths from
childbirth into which enquiry was made, fatality would appear to have been
avoidable and that the main causes of maternal death in childbirth were those
connected with
(1) The absence of ante-natal care;
(2) Errors of judgment in practice or treatment by doctors or midwives;
(3) Lack of reasonable facilities available for effective medical care;
(4) Negligence of the patient or her friends to adopt or carry out medical
advice offered to them.