Brief Excursion: A visit to a maternity hospital

A reporter visits a maternity hospital (University College) to interview the staff and patients, and observes the care that is being undertaken, including some cookery lessons. The programme ends with a seven-minute description of the birth of a baby. It's all managed by the doctor, nurse and midwife, and seems to pass by rather peacefully.

Before the NHS existed, there was a charge to have a baby delivered of approximately one shilling and sixpence. Ante-natal classes were not introduced until the 1960s while routine ultrasound scans didn't arrive until the 1970s.

In 1948, women rarely returned to work after having a baby, as there was no maternity pay and no obligation for employers to keep their jobs open.

Recorded circa 1953.