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34
Borough Maternity Hospital.
The Borough Maternity Hospital is situate at 19 and 20
Bolingbroke Grove, overlooking Wandsworth Common. It was
established soon after the war, and was opened for the reception of
maternity cases in February, 1921. Accommodation is provided
for 30 patients at one time. The Hospital is a recognised training
institution for pupil-midwives, and a District Midwifery Service
for the attendance of the District Midwife on patients in their own
homes is directed from the Borough Maternity Hospital.
The Central Ante-Natal Clinics and Special Treatment Clinics
are held at the Out-Patient Department of the Hospital.
The Nursing Staff of the Hospital consists of a Matron, Sister
and 5 Staff Nurses. There is accommodation in the Hospital for
12 pupil midwives undergoing training at one time.
Owing to the great increase—to the fullest capacity of the
Hospital—in the number of patients admitted, many of them cases
of extreme gravity or emergency, on the recommendation of the
Medical Officer of Health a resident Medical Officer Was appointed
by the Council in 1927. This Officer, in addition to conducting
difficult cases of labour, acts as a liaison officer between the AnteNatal
and Obstetric Consultants. This appointment has been fully
justified by the results obtained, only one maternal death amongst
1,800 patients admitted having occurred during the past three
years.
The appointment of this Officer has also enabled a Post-Natal
Clinic to be established at the Hospital where women who have
been confined in the Hospital attend for examination by the
Resident Medical Officer six weeks after confinement.
The services of the Consultant Obstetrician to the Hospital,
Dr. J. S. Fairbairn, M.D., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.P., Senior Obstetric
Physician to St. Thomas' Hospital (or his deputy, Dr. A. H.
Richardson, F.R.C.S.) are also available in cases of grave emergency.
It was found necessary to call in the services of the Consultant
Obstetrician in 32 cases during the year as compared with 12 cases
in 1927.
During 1928, 653 cases were admitted to the Hospital as compared
with 634 cases in 1927, 625 in 1926, 560 in 1925 and 400
in 1924.