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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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PROVISION OF MATERNITY HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION,
MIDWIVES AND MIDWIFERY ASSISTANCE,
EMERGENCY OBSTETRIC SERVICE, ARRANGEMENTS FOR
INVESTIGATION OF MATERNAL DEATHS AND CASES OF
PUERPERAL FEVER AND PUERPERAL PYREXIA, CONSULTANTS
FOR DIFFICULT MATERNITY CASES, HOME
HELPS, CONVALESCENT HOME TREATMENT, HOMES FOR
MOTHERS AND CHILDREN AND NURSING ASSISTANCE.
Maternity Hospital Accommodation.—The Council pays the
sum of one guinea in respect of each necessitous person admitted
from the Borough for treatment at either of the under-mentioned
hospitals. Expectant women are deemed to be eligible for assistance
under this scheme if, by reason of poverty or other cause, they are
unable to pay an amount equal to one-half the average cost per
patient of the maintenance and administration charges of the
hospital concerned for the preceding year.
The number of patients assisted under this scheme, together with the cost to the Council during the year, is shown below:—
| Cases. | Cost. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | s. | d. | ||
| Salvation Army Mothers' Hospital | 61 | 64 | 1 | 0 |
| City of London Maternity Hospital | 135 | 141 | 15 | 0 |
| 196 | £205 | 16 | 0 | |
Midwives and Midwifery Assistance.—There are 77 midwives
residing in the Borough who have notified to the local supervising
authority (the London County Council) their intention to practise,
and 8 midwives who practise in the Borough but reside elsewhere.
Of the total number 8 are engaged in private practice, 6 are
employed by the London County Council, the remaining number
being employed by hospitals and voluntary associations.
In order to meet the needs of those mothers who desire to be
confined in their own homes and are unable to pay a midwife's fee.
the Council adopted a scheme in 1920 under which it accepts
financial responsibility for the whole or part of the cost of a
midwife's services.
The fees of midwives in attendance on 25 mothers were paid
by the Council during the year, the payments totalling £26 17s. 6d.
Domiciliary Midwifery Service.—The scheme made by the
London County Council under the Midwives' Act, 1936, came into
operation on 1st January, 1938. Under this scheme Hackney is
included with Bethnal Green, Poplar, Shoreditch, Stepney and