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printed booklet, which is supplied to all expectant mothers. An
appointment is made for the next interview, the date being entered in
the Health Visitor's register. Each Health Visitor is given the names
and addresses of all expectant mothers in her area who have attended
the Ante-Natal Clinic, and she makes usually one ante-natal visit to
the patient's home.
Special visits are also made to enquire after the welfare of mothers
who have arranged to come again to the clinic and who fail to attend,
or where there is any reason for anxiety. The expectant mothers
attending the centre may be classified in several groups:—
1. Those seeking admission to the Council's Maternity Home.
2. Those arranging to go into the Greenwich and Deptford
Hospital.
3. Those who have booked with a midwife.
4. Those who have not yet made any arrangements.
Among the latter are a small proportion of purely gynaecological
patients, who are referred to their own doctor for treatment, or to a
hospital, according to the circumstances of the case. A certain number
come merely to be assured as to the existence of a suspected pregnancy,
or to solve a doubt as to the probable date of a confinement, and a few
to ask advice as to what arrangements it will be best to make. Patients
belonging to the first three groups are kept under observation at
intervals, an examination of the urine being made at least once a week
during the later months of pregnancy. Patients in whom any serious
abnormality or complication is found are advised to go into hospital.
As a rule admission is easily obtained, by means of a letter of recommendation,
to King's College Hospital or to the Greenwich and
Deptford Hospital. Patients other than those receiving Poor Law
relief can be admitted to the maternity wards of the Guardians'
hospital on payment of very moderate fees, and may avail themselves
of this.
Expectant mothers seeking admission to the Council's Maternity
Home are first examined by the doctor, who makes other arrangements
for cases presenting any serious complication, such as contracted pelvis
or any form of infectious disease. Each mother for the Council's
Maternity Home is then given an application form on which details as
to the family, income, rent, etc., are entered, in order that the Ladies'
Sub-Committee may make the necessary assessment as to fees, and
this form is sent to the Matron at the Home. The fees vary according