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It is satisfactory to be able to record a decline in Maternal
Mortality during 1927, and an inspection of the above table shows
on the whole a relatively fairly satisfactory record for the Borough.
Borough Maternity Hospital.
The Borough Maternity Hospital was opened for the reception
of Maternity patients in February, 1921.
The Hospital is situate at 19 and 20 Bolingbroke Grove, overlooking
Wandsworth Common. Accommodation is provided for
30 patients at one time. The Hospital is also a recognised training
Institution for pupil-midwives and a district midwifery service for
the attendance of the District Midwife on patients in their own
homes is directed from the Borough Maternity Hospital.
The Central Ante-Natal and Special Treatment Clinics are
held at the Out-patient Department of the Hospital.
The Nursing Staff of the Hospital consists of a matron, sister
and 4 staff nurses. There is accommodation in the Hospital for
12 pupil midwives undergoing training.
During 1927, the Council on the recommendation of the
Maternity and Child Welfare and Staff Committees decided to
appoint a Resident Medical Officer for a period of 12 months,
renewable for another year. The main reasons for this appointment
were, the great increase in the number of patients admitted, difficulty
of obtaining local medical assistance when required, number of
difficult and dangerous cases admitted from Ante-Natal Clinics
requiring Medical supervision while in Hospital, necessity for
co-ordinating work of Hospital with Ante-Natal Centres and for
the proper keeping of records and case papers, ensuring that the
services of the Consultant Obstetrician to the Hospital are available
with the least possible delay in cases of grave emergency, and
provision for a post-natal clinic for the periodical examination of
patients subsequent to their discharge from the Hospital after
confinement.
The results of the first few months working of the new appointment
have fully justified the action of the Council. It has increased
the efficiency of the Clinical work of the Hospital and has provided
greater security for the patients, a matter of vital importance
having regard to the number of difficult and dangerous cases
admitted, many of them requiring serious surgical operations to
be carried out without delay.