View report page

18
MATERNAL DEATHS
Although the Registrar-General allocated statistically to the London
Borough of Hackney three deaths due to pregnancy, there were actually six deaths
associated with pregnancy occurring in the Borough. Full details of these cases
were reported as usual to the Regional Assessor for the Minister of Health in
connection with the Minister's confidential enquiry into maternal deaths.
An analysis of these deaths showed one to be concerned with attempted abortion
in very early pregnancy, one following termination of pregnancy for medical reasons,
one following premature labour, and the other three after full-term deliveries.
A Ministry of Health report on maternal deaths 1952/63 issued to local
health authorities during the year drew attention to the fact that although
maternal mortality had declined phenomenally during the past two decades, even
lower rates could be achieved by ensuring that all high risk mothers are admitted
to specialist obstetric units. In this Borough, not only is there a very
high proportion of mothers confined in hospital, but mothers who express a wish
to be confined at home are persuaded to go to hospital if there is thought to
be an above average risk in a home confinement.
CHILD HEALTH CLINICS
It is encouraging to note that the number of attendances of children aged
2-5 years showed an increase. With the stress on the importance of periodic
developmental examinations of healthy children, regular attendance at least at
yearly intervals is very necessary, in order that any defects becoming apparent
may be detected at an early stage, and appropriate referral for treatment made.
There was only a slight drop in the number of young children of up to 1
year old brought to the clinics; this may reflect to some extent the drop in
the number of births. The total number of attendances fell by 10% and this is
almost certainly an indication that the shortage of health visitors meant that
they were unable to make return visits to mothers who needed more than the
initial one to persuade them to attend a clinic with their babies.
No. of children who attended Council clinics during 1967:-
Who were born in 1967 4,385
„ „ „ „ 1966 3,853
„ „ „ „ 1962-65 4,897
Total attendances 53,074
No. of sessions 1, 856
No. medically examined 20,875
No. referred elsewhere 738