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42
The Borough Council's Assistant Medical Officers attend
these clinics with the Clinic Assistant and Health Visitors.
Any expectant mother being resident in the Borough
may attend. Beports are furnished to hospitals, doctors
and midwives in respect of their respective patients.
The London County Council is the authority responsible
for the domiciliary midwifery service under the Midwives
Act.
Frequent conferences have been held between representatives
of that body and the Borough Medical Officers
of Health.
Midwives are now required to refer patients who have not
booked a doctor to the Borough Ante-Natal Clinics for
examination and report. It is hoped that this co-operation
of the services will lead to a more efficient midwifery
service nnd a reduction in maternal and infant mortality.
MATERNITY SERVICES.
Facilities for Confinement.
Hospital Facilities.
The excellent facilities existing at Hammersmith Hospital
Post-Graduate Medical School for maternity cases are
becoming better known, and as a result increasing numbers
are taking advantage of it.
In 1919 only 6 per cent. of Hammersmith mothers were
confined in Institutions. In 1938 this had increased to
67 per cent., and there is not the least doubt that having
experienced the comfort of the Hospital the numbers
seeking admission will increase. During 1938 there were
1,061 Hammersmith cases confined in Hammersmith
Hospital.
All abnormal or complicated cases are at once trans-ferred
to Hammersmith Hospital for the necessary in- or
out-patient treatment, and continue to attend the hospital,
where the most modern treatment, equipment and consultative
opinion of the medical, surgical, obstetric and
special units is available, and readily given.