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74
THE MUNICIPAL MATERNITY HOME.
The number of confinements in 1923 was 200 as compared with
129 in 1922. The staff arrangements were completed during the year.
The Matron is a qualified midwife, as also are the members of the
nursing staff. Dr. S. E. Hill is the clinician in charge, and if necessary
she calls in one of the practitioners who form the rota. The services
of Dr. Gilliatt of King's College Hospital were retained for cases
presenting exceptional difficulties of a major character. If Dr. Hill
considers it necessary Dr. Gilliatt is called in in consultation at a fee
of £5 5s. This occurred twice in 1923, at a total cost of £10 10s.
Where a possibility of major operation interference may be deemed
necessary the patient would be removed to King's College Hospital if
Dr. Gilliatt and Dr. Hill considered her fit for removal, but if not fit
the patient would be operated upon in the Home at a fee agreed upon
between Dr. Gilliatt and the Council—usually twenty guineas. No
such operative interference was necessary in 1923. One patient was
removed to King's College Hospital. Should any operation be required
at King's College Hospital no fee would be charged by Dr. Gilliatt,
but the hospital would charge the Borough Council 11s. a day for the
first twenty-one days during which the patient remained at the hospital.
With respect to the case removed to hospital during 1923, the husband
repaid to the Council the sum of £2 2s. per week while his wife was
in hospital. With respect to the character of cases for which the
Council agreed to pay 11s. a day for twenty-one days, it should be
noted that this payment refers to any case which is due to or arises out
of the actual confinement. In the event of a patient while in the
Council's Home contracting any illness or disease not associated with
the confinement, the cost of any treatment incurred by reason of such
patient having to be transferred from the Home to a general or special
hospital is not included in the fee charged by the Council; the patient
must settle direct with the hospital in respect of any charge for her
treatment there.
It is, of course, patent that the ante-natal work should preclude to
a great extent the possibility of any operation arising during a confinement
at the Home. No expectant mother can enter the Home unless
passed at the Ante-Natal Clinic. No abnormal case is admitted to the
Home, but the kindliest interest is taken in any such cases ascertained
at the Ante-Natal Clinic, and they are speedily brought under the care
of the gynaecologist at King's College Hospital.