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undertaken at the Home for Ailing Babies, which at that time
was not fully occupied, the Council decided to take no action in
the matter.
The Nursery was then taken over by the National League for
Health, Maternity and Child Welfare, and is now a Convalescent
Home for mothers and infants sent by Municipal and Voluntary
Centres and Associations affiliated to the League.
Maternity Hospitals.
88. (d) British Hospital for Mothers and Babies. This is
a Maternity Hospital and School for Midwives. The arrangement
by which Dr. Mackenzie acted as Medical Officer to this
hospital terminated on the 1st September, 1919, owing to the
return of the Medical Officer from War service.
The number of beds is 14; the number of indoor cases during
the year was 206, and outdoor cases 224. In addition there is
an ante.natal and post.natal clinic at which 764 cases attended
during the year.
This hospital takes cases from Boroughs other than Woolwich,
so that these maternity beds cannot be considered as entirely
available for the needs of Woolwich. It is proposed to increase
the number of beds to 42, and it is hoped that a building on a
new site in Samuel Street will be commenced early in 1920.
89. (e) Woolwich and Plumstead Maternity Home. For
unmarried mothers there is a small Home at 23 Vicarage Park,
Plumstead. The accommodation is for eight mothers and babies.
It is practically always full, but the girls are encouraged to stay
with their babies as long as possible. The average stay may be
taken as 4¼ months, and since its opening on the 25th November,
1918, 29 girls were in the Home. Nearly all these girls attended
at the Ante.natal Clinics of the Borough Council.
A grant of £50 was made by the Council during the year
toward the funds of the Home.