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41
In the sixteen years (approximately) from February, 1921, to
the end of 1936 (since the opening of the Borough Maternity
Hospital) 10 maternal deaths have occurred in the Hospital among
8,001 births (live and still). The maternal mortality rate for
deaths occurring in the Hospital, i.e. the rate per 1,000 births (live
and still) is therefore 1.25 compared with 2.76 for the whole
Borough during the same period.
In the District Midwifery service, also inaugurated in 1921,
only 2 maternal deaths had been recorded to the end of 1936, the
rate per 1,000 cases being 0.87.
Closing of Hospital.
For a considerable period the question of the staffing of the
Hospital has been a matter of some anxiety, owing to the difficulty
of filling vacancies arising from time to time among the nurses.
In May and June the difficulty became acute following the successive
resignations of three nurses, and later of the sister. The
nursing staff had for some years been established at six, viz., matron,
sister and four nurses, and the loss of so large a proportion of the
staff, the replacement of which was found to be a matter of the
utmost difficulty, created a very grave situation.
The position was aggravated by the occurrence at this time of
a few cases of mild infection, which, in normal circumstances,
would have presented no alarming features, but which, in view of
the shortage of staff, gave rise to serious concern.
After consultation with officers of the Ministry of Health,
therefore, I presented a report to the Health Committee in July,
and, on my recommendation they ordered the Hospital to be closed
until such time as an adequate staff was secured. Arrangements
were made for the reception of patients, whose confinement occurred
during the period of closure, into St. James's Hospital or the Clapham
Maternity Hospital, Jeffreys Road, at their option ; or alternatively,
confinement at home by the district midwife was arranged ; or their
fees were refunded if they decided to make their own arrangements.
The opportunity was taken to carry out extensive cleansing
and decorative work, and some of the existing arrangements were
modernised, e.g. by the installation of wash basins in each ward.
The cost of these works amounted to approximately £785.
The Committee then proceeded to fill the vacancies in the staff.
The salaries paid to sisters and staff nurses (and later the matron and
district midwife) were increased, two sisters were appointed in lieu
of one as previously, and the number of staff nurses was reduced
to three.
Sufficient applications were received for the vacant appointments
to enable a full staff to be engaged, and the hospital was
re-opened. The period of closing lasted from 20th July to 30th
September, inclusive. The additional expense of treating patients
in other institutions incurred by the Council amounted to £171.
Arising out of the closing of the Hospital, the Committee considered
advice tendered by the Ministry of Health that the
Consultant to the Maternity Hospital should exercise close supervision
over the working of the Hospital and be responsible for the
routine technique adopted. The Council concurred, and arranged
with the Consultant, Mr. F. W. Roques, to act in the capacity
suggested and to pay a weekly visit to the Hospital.