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51
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE AREA.
It is suggested in Circular 1269 of the Ministry of Health that where
detailed information regarding the Health Services of the Area was
given in the report for 1930, it will be sufficient for the purposes of this
report to indicate any alteration or development which has taken place
during 1932. Accordingly, as these services have been somewhat fully
dealt with in recent years, the report for 1930 being a full or survey
report, they are again on this occasion discussed briefly.
1. Nursing in the Home.—The nursing of general illness in the home is
undertaken by the three District Nursing Associations which operate
in the City. The service is free for those without means; from others,
contributions are invited according to circumstances. The City Council,
as Maternity and Child Welfare Authority, pays these associations for
nursing services in connection with puerperal fever and pyrexia and
other illnesses arising before, during, or after confinement; also for
ailments in children up to 5 years of age, including measles and whooping
cough. The nursing of primary pneumonia and influenzal pneumonia is
also provided for by the Council through the agency of the associations.
These services are most efficiently and satisfactorily carried out. Under
the City Council arrangements, 1s. 6d. is paid to the association for each
nursing visit; 3,069 visits were paid in 1932 at a cost of £230 3s. 6d.
2. Midwives.—Thirty were practising in the area in 1932. This
number includes the qualified midwives of the outdoor departments of
Westminster and Middlesex Hospitals and the staff of the Ormond Home,
Chelsea.
Confinements at home attended by the midwives from these Institutions
were as follows :—
Westminster 82
Middlesex. 6
Ormond Home 6
Private Midwives 243
A complete midwifery service, indoor and outdoor, is provided by
Westminster Hospital under agreement with the City Council for the
inhabitants of the City. This scheme includes general and special antenatal
clinics ; the following up of cases and the services of obstetric
consultants.
3. Laboratory Facilities.—Arrangements with Westminster Hospital
for the bacteriological examination of material from suspected cases of