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25
NURSING ARRANGEMENTS.
(a.) Professional Nursing in the Home. —This is carried out by the
Chelsea District Nursing Association, located at 10, Sydney Street,
Chelsea. The Borough Council makes an annual grant to the Association,
in addition to a payment of 1s. 6d. per visit. For this remuneration
the Association has undertaken the nursing of all cases of illness occurring
in expectant and nursing mothers and, also on the requisition of the
Medical Officer of Health, the nursing of all children in the Borough
under five years of age suffering from any illness. Cases of ophthalmia
neonatorum, measles, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other diseases thus
receive skilled attention. Acute cases are seen two or three times a
day if necessary and are also visited on Sundays. Chronic bedridden
patients receive a weekly blanket bath. When required, the nurses
assist at minor operations in the patients' own homes.
Adult patients are expected to make payment to the Association
according to their means, but no patient, on account of inability to do
so, is refused the services of a nurse. The only stipulations are that the
patient must be under medical supervision, require nursing and be
unable to pay the fees of a private Nursing Institution.
Details of the work done by the Association during the year on behalf
of the Borough Council will be found on page 69.
Three members of the Public Health Committee of the Borough Council
are members of the Council of the Association.
With the approval of the Ministry of Health, the Borough Council
made a financial grant of £50 to the Association for the year commencing
1st April, 1928. The total fees paid by the Council for nurses' visits
during the year amounted to £141 8s.
(b.) Midwives. —Provision has been made by the Borough; Council
whereby necessitous women may obtain the services of a Maternity
Nurse or Midwife at a reduced rate, the balance of the fee being paid
by the Council.
The fees charged vary from £2 to £2 2s. 0d. for Primipara cases, and
from £1 5s. 0d. to £1 10s. 0d. for Multipara cases.
Arrangements on this basis have been made with the Ormond Home
for Midwives (Blantyre Street, Chelsea), and with Midwives Andrews
and Cooke, who are practising midwives in the Borough. All cases
must in the first instance be approved by the Milk and Welfare Subcommittee.
The Sub-committee meets weekly to consider applications
and assess cases according to the income of the family. Contribution
by patients towards the cost of midwifery assistance are collected by
the Maternity Nurse or Midwife who undertakes the case.
The cases dealt with by the Sub-committee during the past two years
are summarized in Table No. 43 (page 68).
The London County Council is the Authority responsible for the
supervision of midwives in the Borough. Through the courtesy of