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these 2,477 births during the year, 957 of the mothers attended
the Ante-Natal Clinics of the Council and in the majority of cases
made other arrangements with their own doctors or midwives or
hospitals.
The Maternal Mortality rates amongst the mothers attending
the Council's Clinics was 3.13 and amongst those not attending,
7.68 per 1,000 births.
It is to be regretted that greater use is not being made by
Doctors and especially by the Midwives practising in the Borough,
of the facilities provided by the Council for this purpose. The
new Out-Patient Department at the Borough Maternity Hospital
is an admirably equipped Ante-Natal Clinic to which Doctors
or Midwives can refer expectant mothers for examination and
report by the Consultant Specialist, who attends the clinic on three
days weekly. It is unnecessary to stress the vital importance of
the subject, in view of the interest aroused by the two Reports
already issued by the Departmental Committee set up to investigate
the causes responsible for the high maternal mortality prevailing
in this country and the final Report of the Committee will therefore
be awaited with increased interest by the public.
The value of the Maternity Services of the Council is further
illustrated by a comparison of the Maternal Mortality Rate among
women confined in the Borough Maternity Hospital and on the
District Midwifery Service with that of the Borough as a whole.
In the 11 years 1921-31, during which the Hospital has been
open, only 8 deaths have occurred in the Hospital during the
puerperium, giving a mortality rate of 1.4, as compared with a rate
for the Borough as a whole of 3.06, and on the District Midwifery
Service only 2 deaths have occurred.
These results are most satisfactory and encouraging, and
strikingly illustrate the value of the Council's Maternity Service.
In this connection also, arrangements were made on the lines
suggested by the Ministry to place at the disposal of medical practitioners
practising in Battersea, 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.