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maternity work of this hospital will be continued when
the Hospital comes under the control of the London
County Council.
(2) The number of patients who retain the services of a doctor
might be reduced. This is unlikely to be the case, and
as the number of cases who have a doctor at present is
small and the number of doctors anxious to do midwifery
is also small, I think this objection carries little weight.
(3) The payment of fees might result in an influx of midwives
into the Borough. This could not increase the expenditure
falling upon the Council, and is, I think an unlikely
contingency.
Conditions for Payment of Midwives.
(1) Must be on approved list.
(2) Must submit a notice of booking to the Medical Officer of
Health as soon as made.
(3) Must arrange for ante-natal supervision and for at least
one ante-natal examination by a medical practitioner—
the latter may be made either by a general practitioner
or at one of the Borough Ante-natal Clinics or at Guy's,
and the records should show that this examination has
been made.
(4) Must not allow any handy woman to undertake nursing
duties.
(5) A midwife on the list must not make any other charge to a
patient, whose fee has been paid by Council.
In connection with the maternity service in the Borough,
I beg to submit two further suggestions for consideration:—
(1) That maternity outfits (towels, water-proofs, etc.) should
be supplied free of charge at the request of the medical
practitioner or the midwife, for every confinement taking
place at home.