View report page

34
In this connection also, arrangements were made on the lines
suggested by the Ministry to place at the disposal of medical practitioners
specialist advice in difficult maternity cases.
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 also a recognised
training institution for pupil-midwives, and, in addition, a District
Midwifery Service for the attendance of the District Midwife on
patients in their own homes is directed from the 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 4 Staff Nurses. There is accommodation in the Hospital for
12 pupil midwives undergoing training at one time.
Many of the patients were cases of extreme gravity
or emergency, requiring the calling in of the services of the Consultant
Obstetrician. A resident Medical Officer appointed by the
Council in 1927 acts as a liaison officer between the Ante-Natal
and Obstetric Consultants. This appointment has been fully
justified by the results obtained.
The appointment of a Resident Medical Officer has also enabled
a Post-Natal Clinic to be established at the Hospital where women
who have been confined in the Hospital may attend for examination
six weeks after confinement. During 1929 there were 49 sessions
held and 483 attendances were made, 440 being new cases. The
average attendance per session was 9-9. Of the patients treated at
the Hospital during the year 131 failed to attend the Post Natal
Clinic, 30 of these being non-Borough cases.
There was a mild outbreak of infection in the Hospital towards
the end of the year which affected a number of the patients. The
cases were mainly characterised by a slight rise of temperature
associated with an herpetic eruption around the mouth. Isolation
was carried out as far as practicable, and before the end of the year
the outbreak had apparently subsided.
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 20 cases during the year as compared with 32 cases
in 1928.