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23
Dr. Thomson visits the Maternity Home every day
and supervises generally the medical work of the home.
We are again fortunate in this instance, in having
continuity of tenure of office as both Dr. Thomson
and the Matron, Miss Bustard, have held office since
the opening of the institution in 1920. During 1923
the Council decided to raise the charges for admission
to the Maternity Home ; the minimum fee, which used
to be £2 0s. 0d., has now been raised to £3 0s. 0d.,
additional charges being made where the incomes of
the patients warrant them. This fee includes all
expenses incidental to the confinements and the residence
of the patients in the home for 14 days, and is
inclusive of medical attention if required. During
the latter part of the year the applications for admission
to the Maternity Home fell off very considerably, and
a special Sub-Committee was appointed to investigate
the possible causes. In their report they stated that
" after careful consideration, we are of opinion that
the reduction in the number of admissions is not generally
due to the raising of the fees, nor to any particular
reason, but is an occurrence incidental to the working
of such institutions."
Provision of Milk.—Under the Maternity and Child
Welfare Act, 1918, milk is provided free, or at less
than cost price, to necessitous cases under the Council's
scheme. During the year grants of milk were made
to expectant mothers and to children under three
years of age in 320 cases, compared with 449 cases
during 1922.