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The position has greatly improved as a result of a scheme introduced
in 1963 which set up "catchment areas" for the main
maternity hospitals. Expectant mothers are booked for admission
to certain hospitals which have agreed to accept cases from the
mother's area of residence. This scheme has led to a greater
flexibility and has gone a considerable way towards avoiding the
highly unsatisfactory situation that formerly sometimes arose
when it was not possible to book a bed for an expectant mother
and reliance had to be made on emergency procedure for admission.
There is little doubt that this scheme has proved its worth
and alleviated a good deal of anxiety and worry on the part not
only of the expectant mothers themselves but also of their
attendants.
The Maternity Liaison Committees represent all local interests in
co-ordinating administrative and executive action and provide a
valuable link between the three arms of the health service, namely,
hospital, general practitioner and local health authority, where
common problems and difficulties can be discussed.
Early Discharge of Maternity Patients
In suitable cases mothers are booked for hospital confinement
but, with the agreement of the doctor and the midwife, on the basis
of their being discharged 48 hours after delivery. This scheme is
very popular with the mothers and with co-operation of the hospitals
concerned works extremely well. Unfortunately, the planned
discharges sometimes have a slightly upsetting effect on the other
mothers in the ward, some of whom occasionally take their own
discharge against medical advice. These mothers are, of course,
given all necessary medical and nursing care but it is not a happy
situation. If the number of booked early discharge cases increases,
the possibility of having separate wards for them may have to be
considered.
Premature Infants

Handicap and Observation Register
The Health Department maintains a combined Handicap and
Observation Register of children under five years of age at risk of