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112
New End Hospital.—These five beds, which are available for
married women only, were opened on 20th March, 1925, and from that
date to the end of the year the number of patients that have passed
through these beds has been 28. It is too early, perhaps, to decide
upon the full effect of these beds or the class of persons they will reach,
but they do not appear on first sight to have reached the class of people
whom it was originally anticipated would be most glad to avail themselves
of the beds. The general run of the patients up to now have
been in a lower social scale than was at first thought probable. Of the
28 cases admitted, 1 paid £1 Is. 0d. per week, 1 paid £1 5s. 0d., 17
paid £1 lls. 6d., 5 paid £2 2s. 0d., and 4 paid £2 12s. 6d.
I am of opinion that the Ward being situated in New End Hospital
is not helpful, many of the better-class people cannot disassociate New
End Hospital from a poor law institution.
The patients receive treatment from the Medical Superintendent
of the Hospital, and are admitted without the intervention of the
Relieving Officer, and contribute to the cost of their treatment according
to the assessment of the Sub-Committee of the Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee.
The Hampstead Board of Guardians agreed to place the Ward at the
disposal of the Borough Council on the following terms, viz:—
(1) The Ward to consist of five beds reserved for the use of
maternity patients sent into the Hospital by the Borough
Council, the Council making a payment of £3 3s. 0d. per
week for each bed occupied(or a proportionate charge per
day).
(2) The patients to be admitted by the Medical Superintendent of
the Hospital, on the order of the Medical Officer of Health,
without the intervention of the Relieving Officer.
(3) The patients to be attended by the staff of New End Hospital,
the Medical Superintendent being ultimately responsible for
the treatment and care of the patients.
(4) The Medical Officer of Health to have right of access to the
Ward at reasonable hours.
(5) The Council to undertake that the beds will be kept reasonably
filled.
* This charge was reduced in November to £2 15s. 0d. per week.