[Report 1942-1943] / Medical Officer of Health, St Helens County Borough.

  • St. Helens (Merseyside, England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1943
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1942-1943] / Medical Officer of Health, St Helens County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    During 1943 the number of cases dealt with was 577, including 18 in hospital on 1st January and 91 admitted for ante-natal treatment. The number of deliveries was 473 and in 81 of these medical assistance was necessary. There were 24 still¬ births and 8 infants died within 10 days of birth. 16 cases were admitted during 1943 after delivery. j The number of maternal deaths in this hospital was 4 in 1942 and 4 in 1943. The cause of death in each case was :— 1942. 1. Obstetric Shock due to complete Inversion. 2. Influenzal Broncho-pneumonia. 3. Eclampsia. 4. Pulmonary Embolism. 1943. 1. Ante-partum Elaemorrhage due to Toxaemia. 2. Uraemic Coma—Chronic Nephritis aggravated by pregnancy. 3. Pernicious Anaemia. 4. Placenta Praevia. On the children’s side of the Hospital, 114 children under 5 years of age were admitted during 1942, which with 20 in hospital on the 1st January made a total of 134 dealt with during the year. 75 of these children were admitted for care and supervision whilst their mothers were in hospital, and the reasons for admission of the other cases were : Marasmus 20, Rickets 5, Debility 5, Cardiac Disease 3, Pyloric Stenosis 2, Prematurity 2, Otitis Media 1 and Jaundice 1. In 1943 the number of children admitted was 94, making with 20 in-patients on 1st January, a total of 114. 74 children were admitted for care whilst their mothers were in hospital, and of the remaining 20 the reasons for admission were : Marasmus 8, Prematurity 5 and Rickets, Debility, etc., in the remainder. WAR-TIME NURSERY.—During the years 1942 and 1943 the Cor¬ poration War-time Nursery, which was opened in Hall Street in March, 1941, was fully utilised. The average number on the register was 37 in 1942 and 35 in 1943, and the average daily attendance during these years was 20.2 and 20.3. Owing to the small number of mothers using the Nursery during the week-ends, it was decided in May, 1943, to close at mid-day on Saturdays and to keep the Nursery open only from 6-30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday to Friday inclusive and to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The average daily attendance in 1943, excluding Saturday and Sunday, was 26.3. MILK FOR MOTHERS AND INFANTS.—With the continuance of the National Milk Scheme, the issue of dried milk through the Council’s scheme for milk for mothers and infants was limited to special cases for whom the National Scheme was not altogether satisfactory. During 1942, approximately 70 cwts. of dried milk were distributed through the Council’s scheme, and of this 215 lbs. were issued free and 1,916 lbs, at less than cost price.