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82
MATERNITY HOME.
As foreshadowed in my report for the year 1924, the number of
admissions during the year under review showed a very marked
increase. The actual figure was 295 and the following table shows
the total admissions since the Home was opened at the end of
February, 1922 :—
1922 (part of) 121
1923 228
1924 220
1925 295
Total cases admitted since opening of Home 864
The maximum number of patients which can be accommodated
during a year may be regarded as 312, which figure is arrived at by
taking the accommodation as 12 beds and allowing a fortnight's
stay throughout the year for each patient.
The figure of 295 for 1925 gives a percentage therefore of 94 5,
but actually it was found that in no less than half the year there was
an average of more than 12 patients in the Home, and during a
short period the very high level of 20 was reached.
Upon such occasions it was possible to accommodate patients
only by utilising the receiving ward and the open air balcony which
latter I may say has been of great service and much appreciated.
Again it is my pleasure to report the absence of any maternal
deaths during the year.
Brief particulars of the year's record are as follows :—
No. of cases delivered by midwives 264
,, „ ,, doctors 31
,, where medical assistance was sought
by the midwife 3 (during labour 1, for the infant 2).
No. of foetal deaths 9 (stillborn 2, within 10 days of birth, 7).
In one case only was the infant not entirely breast fed and this
was due to the patient's mental condition being below the average.
For some considerable time it had been evident that if the
Home was to be in every way efficient and of a sufficient size to
accommodate all cases likely to require accommodation, a substantial
increase in the number of beds available was necessary, and this
matter received the special consideration of the Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee in the early part of the year, with the result that
in July, 1925, the Council agreed to extend the Home by the addition
of 10 beds. This was to be accomplished by utilising the top floor