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 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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28
eighth week of pregnancy, special methods of resuscitation and care will probably
be needed for the baby, and the confinement should therefore take place in
hospital. Only in a very few instances is there too little time to allow this
to be done.
It will be seen from the table below that the number of babies who survive is much greater in those of over 3 lb. 4 ozs., i.e. 92% as against 34%, those with very low birth weights being at greater risk by reason of their immaturity; about two-thirds of those weighing under 3 lb. 4 ozs. died before the twenty-eighth day of life.
| Weight at bi r th | Premature live births | Premature sti1Ibirths | Total premature live and still births | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in hospital | Born at home | ||||||||
| Total births in hospital | Died | Born | |||||||
| Within 24 hours of birth | In one and under 7 days | In 7 and under 28 days | Nursed entirely at home | Transferred to hospital on/or before 28th day | In hospital | At home | |||
| Up to and including 3lb. 4ozs. | 47 | 23 | 6 | 2 | - | 3* | 25 | - | 75 |
| Over 31b. 4ozs. and up to and including 5lb. 3ozs. | 344 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 120 | 28 | 1 | 402 |
| Total | 391 | 42 | 13 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 53 | 1 | 477 |
* One of these babies died within 24 hours, and one other died in under 7 days.
??? One of these babies died within 24 hours.
STAFF
In my report for 1965 I mentioned the difficulty of obtaining a suitably
qualified person to fill the position of non-medical supervisor of midwives.
This position was filled, however, in October.
STATUTORY POWERS
Under the provisions of the Midwives Act, 1951, it is the duty of this
Council as local supervising authority to supply the Central Midwives Board
with the names and addresses of all certified midwives who, during the previous
period of twelve months ending 31st January notified their intention
to practice within the area. (This applies to midwives employed in hospitals
within the area as well as domiciliary personnel.) In the period ending 31
January, 1967, 125 notifications were received.