View report page

43
The Government campaign for physical fitness with the extra emphasis that is thereby implied
on the nutritional side has not yet completely percolated through the community but a greater
spirit of enquiry and increased receptiveness is gradually becoming noticeable amongst Paddington
mothers. All this has an ultimate bearing on the health of succeeding generations."
Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital.—During the year 1937, 25 infants of mothers resident
in Paddington attended the Infant Consultation Centre. The average number of attendances per
infant was 8.
During 1937 there were received into the Hospital for confinement 109 women from Paddington,
and 223 Paddington "women were delivered in their own homes by midwives from the Hospital.
The average attendance of these patients at the Ante-natal Clinic was approximately 8.
St. Mary's Hospital.—There is no Infant Consultation Centre at this Hospital, but in addition
to the ordinary ante-natal consultations one is specially held each week for women who have booked
beds in the Borough Council's Maternity Wards at the Hospital. The number of attendances at
that Clinic during the year was 1,665 by 289 women. No definite figures are available as to the
number of Paddington women who attended the ordinary ante-natal consultations but the number
of confinements attended by the Hospital extern staff in the Borough was 65 and presumably all
of these received examination and advice there.
Maternity Nursing.—The arrangement whereby the Paddington and St. Marylebone District
Nursing Association provides the services of trained maternity nurses in connection with lying-in
cases attended by the students and the Medical Officer of the Extern Midwifery Department of
St. Mary's Hospital, continued in operation throughout the year.
During the year 1937, 63 confinements were attended by the nursing staff, the number of visits
being 1,260. The figures for 1936 were 92 and 1,568 respectively. The annual grant in aid of this
work is £175.
Maternity Wards.—Under an agreement made with the Board of Management of St. Mary's
Hospital, a suite of wards containing 14 beds became available in the Hospital on the 1st April,
1933, for patients accepted for admission by the Borough Council. The agreement is for a period
of five years and provides for payment to be made to the Board at the rate of 9s. per day for each
bed, whether occupied or not, the annual amount being approximately £2,300.

Note.—Assessments are made in accordance with the above where only one maternity benefit is expected.
Where there is no maternity benefit a reduction will be made, but where two are payable an
increase of the scale is made where deemed necessary.
The duties of Maternity Wards Almoner are carried out by Miss Hill, one of the Council's
Health Visiting staff.
During the year, 312 women were delivered in the wards. One case of puerperal fever and 3 of
puerperal pyrexia were notified. There were 6 stillbirths, and 5 deaths within 10 days of birth.
The payments made by patients admitted, or accepted for admission, to the wards amounted
to £639 6s. 3d. for the year.
Midwifery Service.—In March, 1932, the Council authorised arrangements for the provision
of a qualified midwife by the Paddington and St. Marylebone District Nursing Association to attend
emergency maternity cases at a fee of 30s. per case. There was one emergency case during 1937.
Under a further arrangement the midwifery staff of the Nursing Association attend, on behalf
of the Council, certain women in their own homes who, for various reasons, are unable to go to an
institution for their confinements. Payment is made at the rate of £3 3s. Od. per case, the whole
or part of the cost being recovered from the patients. During 1937, 51 cases were attended, the
patients' contributions collected to the end of the year amounting to £31 3s. Od.