London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Poplar 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]

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159
Appendix B.
LYING-IN ACCOMMODATION:— (Provision of Maternity Beds
at St. Andrew's Hospital, by the Board of Guardians, for Expectant
Mothers who are not in Receipt of Relief and who are Willing to
Contribute Towards the Cost according to their Income).
The following were the points upon which agreement was arrived
at between the Council's and the Guardians' representatives:—
(1) On behalf of the Board of Guardians, Dr. Bray stated the
following accommodation would be reserved for the use of expectant
mothers:—
A Ward of 12 beds: a Labour Room; Separate Kitchen
and Duty Room.
(To all intents a self-contained suite, with practically a
separate entrance).
(It was pointed out that the original proposal was for the
Borough Council to have 8 beds, but 12 was the number suggested
by the Board's representatives, in order to save structural alterations.
The Medical Officer of Health pointed out that it was questionable
whether 12 beds could be kept fully occupied by the Council).
(2) Payments by the Council to be at the rate of £2 15s. to £3
per week for each bed occupied, and a retaining fee of 10s. for
each bed unoccupied.
(3) The patients to be admitted by the Medical Superintendent
of St. Andrew's Hospital, on the instructions of the Maternity and
Child Welfare Committee, without the intervention of the Relieving
Officer.
(4) The nursing staff of the Ward to be drawn from nurses with
special qualifications or training in maternity work; the medical
officer responsible for the confinement, or his deputy, to have had
special experience in midwifery, the Medical Officer of the Hospital
being ultimately responsible for the treatment and care of the
patients.