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It will be noted that the maternal mortality in the borough
was, in total, below the average for the previous quinquennium.
Following the usual procedure, and in accordance with the instructions
of the Ministry of Health, each of the 4 deaths of Battersea
mothers was fully investigated, and reports submitted to the
Ministry.
The Council has made free provision under its Maternity and
Child Welfare scheme for the ante-natal examination of expectant
mothers, and arrangements are made for X-ray examinations to
be carried out at the hospitals of the London County Council,
without charge to the mother in necessitous cases. Printed
booklets of advice to expectant mothers are provided free of charge.
Doctors and practising midwives are invited to refer expectant
mothers for examination and report by the consultant specialist
who attends the ante-natal clinics on three days weekly, but up
to the present they have failed to avail themselves of the facilities
provided by the Council for this purpose to any appreciable extent.
The Council have also agreed to compensate any practising midwife
who suffers loss of fees owing to her patient (having been referred
by her to the Council's ante-natal clinic) entering hospital for
her confinement on the advice of the medical officer of the clinic.
Arrangements have also been made as suggested by the
Ministry to place at the disposal of medical practitioners practising
in Battersea, specialist advice in difficult maternity cases.
This service was requisitioned in one case during 1937.
In July the Council had before them a circular letter (1622)
from the Minister of Health, dated 7th May, drawing attention
to the Report on Maternal Mortality which he had recently presented
to Parliament and stating that he would be glad if the Council