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95
prepared to sanction further loans for this purpose at the present time
although he realised that the accommodation in the Christchurch schools
was not ideal for the purposes of a Clinic.
Ante-natal. Efforts have been particularly concentrated on antenatal
work, and the department works in close touch with the midwives
of the district. An ante-natal clinic, opened in Poplar in 1924, is
now well established, and greatly increased attendances are recorded at
Old Ford.
Enquiries are made into all cases of maternal mortality and the
deaths from these cases during the years 1920 to 1926, were as follows:-
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926
Sepsis 7 6 3 7 1 5 4
Other causes 12 10 9 7 4 7 9
There is no municipal maternity home, but the Guardians have a
lying-in ward in their Institution, and several of the midwives in the
Borough conduct private lying-in homes. Mothers in the Borough also
avail themselves of the East End Mothers' Lying-in Hospital and other
institutions.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee make contributions
toward the fees of midwives attending necessitous women. The scale
adopted is as follows:-
From the average weekly income, for the 4 weeks preceding the
birth, is deducted the rent and 5s. for each child under the age of 14
years. If the nett weekly income is under 30s., the sum of 13s. 6d.
is contributed towards the fee of the midwife, and if the income is
between 30s. and 40s., 6s. is contributed. No grant is made if the
income is over 40s. per week, or if maternity benefit is received.
All stillbirths are investigated and a summary of the information
obtained appears on page 102.
A private institution for dealing with unmarried mothers and
babies has been opened at 83, Bow Road. It is under the Poplar
Deanery and works independently of the Borough Council.