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73
Nine infants were either stillborn or died within 10 days of
birth.
With only 4 exceptions all the infants were entirely breast-fed.
It was hoped that the number of cases admitted would show
an advance on the very satisfactory figure of 228 last year but, as
will be seen, the present figure falls short of the 1923 total by 8.
It is interesting to note, however, that the actual number of cases
booked during 1924 was 265, compared with 225 for the preceding
year, and the number of cases admitted during 1924 would certainly
have shown an advance upon the 1923 figure had all the patients
who had contemplated requiring accommodation in December
entered the Home during that month. During the last 3 months
of the year an average of 11 patients continuously in the Home was
maintained and it may be added that during the whole of the early
months of the present year the accommodation of the Home was
taxed to its utmost capacity, in fact, it would certainly appear that
unless we are to have to refuse Maternity Home accommodation to
many applicants in the near future it will be essential that some
considerable extension is carried into effect.
As will be remembered, the Home was opened at the end of
February, 1922, and at the close of 1924 569 patients had been
admitted.
The figures prepared by the Ministry of Health in regard to the
several Maternity Homes in the Metropolitan Area show that the
nett cost per patient per week during the period under review was
lowest with two exceptions, another point of interest being that,
taking the whole period, 75 per cent. of the beds were occupied
which percentage is highest, again with two exceptions only.
The total amount of fees received from patients during the year
was £1,167.
Pre-Maternity Clinics. Centres are held at the Borough
Hall on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and on Friday morning at
Shooters Hill Road. It will be recollected that towards the end
of 1923, owing to the increasing numbers attending the Borough
Hall Clinic, it became necessary to have the additional Centre at
Shooters Hill Road. This arrangement has worked very satisfactorily,
for, in addition to relieving the pressure at the Clinic, it
has provided for the needs of the eastern end of the Borough. The
attendances f or the year were:—
Borough Hall 886
Shooters Hill Road 392
Total 1,278