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the figures relating to the re-establishment of breast feeding indicate
the value of the work which is being done by the staff, and, what is also
important, shows that the mothers themselves in spite of considerable
inconvenience persevere in their attendances for test feeds and advice.
Proposed Maternity Beds.—The terms of the agreement between the
Borough Council and the Board of Guardians for the provision of maternity
beds in St. Andrew's Hospital have now been settled, and together with
the list of staff will be forwarded to the Minister of Health for approval
within the next few weeks. It is hoped to open the Council's Maternity
Ward about the beginning of September, 1929. The Ward will provide
accommodation for 12 maternity cases with Labour Ward and Night
Nursery.
Compensation to Midwives.—During the year my attention was
drawn to one or two instances where midwives lost their cases as a result
of patients being recommended by Clinic Medical Officers to enter Hospital
for confinement on account of abnormal conditions.
In order that such action on the part of Clinic Medical Officers should
not deter midwives from referring patients to the Council's Ante-Natal
Clinics the Council agreed to the payment of compensation up to an
amount not exceeding ten shillings to a midwife in such circumstances,
subject to the following conditions:—
(1) That the Medical Officer of the Clinic certified that he or
she has advised the patient to be confined in a Maternity
Home or Hospital;
(2) That the Midwife submits the Ante-Natal Clinic Medical
Officer's Report;
(3) That the patient confirms the fact that she has engaged a
midwife to attend her in her confinement and had been
referred by the Midwife to the Clinic;
(4) That the birth takes place in Hospital;
(5) That if a booking fee has already been paid to the Midwife
this fee must be returned to the patient before compensation
is paid to the Midwife.
The scheme was approved by the Minister of Health early in 1929.