London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chelsea 1944
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chelsea, 1944
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27
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 are £2 for Primipara cases, and £1 10s. for Multipara
cases.
Arrangements on this basis were in operation during the year. All
cases must in the first instance be approved by the Milk and Welfare
Sub-committee. The Sub-committee meets weekly to consider
applications and assess cases according to the income of the family.
Contributions by patients towards the cost of midwifery assistance are
collected by the Maternity Nurse or Midwife who undertakes the case.
In the following Table No. 22 is shown, for the past two years, the
number of applications for midwifery attendance, the number provided
with such attendance, the amount of assessment on cases attended and
the nett expenditure by the Council for this service. Thirteen of the
cases were provided with a Midwife free of charge, the remainder contributed
according to their resources.
TABLE No. 22.
| Year. | (1) No. of applications for services of | (2) Total number provided with a | Amount of Assessment on cases attended. | Nett Cost to Council. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity Nurse | Midwife. | Maternity Nurse. | Midwife. | Maternity Nurse. | Midwife. | Maternity Nurse. | Midwife. | |||||||||
| £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | s. | d. | ||||||
| 1937 | - | 25 | — | 24 | — | 13 | 14 | 0 | — | 22 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 1938 | - | 23 | - | 23 | — | 4 | 14 | 6 | - | 29 | 15 | 6 | ||||
Note.—(1) Includes applications refused and cases subsequently withdrawn.
(2) Includes cases assessed during previous year.
The London County Council is the Authority responsible for the supervision
of midwives in the Borough. Through the courtesy of Sir Frederick
Menzies, the County Medical Officer of Health, I have been able to
ascertain that 9 midwives gave notice during the year of their intention
to practise as midwives in Chelsea. Of these, two are engaged in
private practice, the remainder being employed on the staffs of various
hospitals, institutions and maternity homes within the Borough.
HOME HELP IN MATERNITY CASES.
Home Helps are employed by the Borough Council for service in the
homes of necessitons women during confinement.
The following Table No. 23 shows, for the past
Six years, the number of applications received for Home Help service,
the number of cases attended, the amount of assessment on cases attended
and the nett expenditure by the Council for this service:—