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The number of Camberwell women who were confined in
hospitals and nursing homes within and outside Camberwell during
1933 was 1,615. All of these patients received ante-natal supervision
at the hospital where the confinement took place.
Municipal Maternity Wards.
In 1923 this Council entered into an agreement with the Camberwell
Board of Guardians for a period of three years for the
reservation of a ward containing six beds in St. Giles' Hospital,
Camberwell, for women who desired to be confined under this
Authority's Maternity Scheme.
In view of the demand for beds the agreement was renewed
in November, 1926, for a further period of three years and the
accommodation increased to two six-bed wards.
Under Part I of the Local Government Act, 1929, this
Institution was transferred to the London County Council as from
April Ist, 1930, and a new agreement for retaining these wards
was subsequently entered into with that Authority.
During the year under review the L.C.C. notified this Council
that the maternity work at St. Giles' Hospital was increasing to
such an extent that the accommodation was becoming inadequate
and that certain structural alterations were being made at the
hospital which would have the effect of increasing the maternity
accommodation, and that it would not be possible to make proper
provision for the number of maternity cases which the Council
will be required to accommodate if the wards reserved for Borough
Council cases were set apart exclusively for this purpose.
The London County Council therefore sought amendment of
the existing agreement, so as to provide for the reception of Borough
Council maternity patients on the understanding that beds would
not be specifically reserved for such purpose, and that they should
have the right as to the disposal of such patients within the hospital,
or of admitting them to another hospital conveniently situated, if
such action became necessary owing to pressure of accommodation.
This Council in their consideration of this matter decided that
to insist upon the exclusive reservation of the wards for municipal
patients would seriously hamper the London County Council in
making the best use of the hospital, and it was accordingly resolved
to terminate the agreement by arrangement on March 31st, 1934.
Since the transfer of the Boards of Guardians hospitals to the
London County Council, the prejudice which hitherto existed of
entering a Poor Law institution no longer prevails, and it has
been the custom of the appropriate committee, when all the
municipal maternity beds were booked, to recommend women
desirous of having their confinement in a hospital to make application
for a bed either at St. Giles' or Dulwich hospitals.