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Maternity Beds.
The subject of the welfare of the mother before, during, and
after the birth of the child is a matter of great concern, and one
which is deserving of every consideration.
It is significant that the maternal death rate due to childbirth
has varied very little for a great number of years.
An obvious duty is to make maternity as safe as possible for
the mother and child, and to reduce to a minimum the results accruing
from inattention at birth.
In a memorandum on the subject from the Ministry of Health
two classes of patients are specifically mentioned: —
1. Patients showing some abnormality either during pregnancy
or at the time of labour which calls for special
medical treatment and skill.
2. Patients whose domestic conditions are unfavourable
for confinement in their own homes, even where a normal
labour may be expected.
The provision of homes or accommodation at hospitals where
the best possible skill and treatment are available for the mother
who comes under one of the above-mentioned classes is necessary.
The need for such provision is intensified by the present housing
conditions, which prevent proper accommodation and reasonable
privacy being obtained on this account, and it is not surprising
to find that many women are desirous of being confined away from
their homes.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee considered this
question some months ago with a view of trying to find suitable
premises that could be adapted for the purpose of a Home, but their
efforts did not meet with success.
The matter was again considered last October when the Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee endeavoured to obtain beds in
a general hospital, but the scheme did not mature, as it was felt
that the financial aspect of the proposed arrangement was not
satisfactory. Further negotiations are proceeding, however, with
the authorities of another Institution.
SANITARY ADMINISTRATION.
Sanitary Inspection of District.
Visits to complaints numbered 3,843, compared with 3,657 in
1921, and the number of house inspections following complaints
was 2,474. House to house inspections showed a considerable
increase (2,129 in 1922, compared with 1,773 in 1921), due to the
appointment of two temporary inspectors for a period of three
months in the summer. Inspections following tuberculosis were
very much fewer than in 1921, being 307 in 1922, compared with
2,405.