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56
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Nursing Staff.—The staff consists of Matron, two Sisters, one
Staff Nurse, two Nurses and six Probationers. The Probationers,
who remain for a year and act as pupil midwives, undergo training
for the Central Midwives Board examination, and the Home is
recognised by the Board for this purpose. The pupil midwives also
attend a course of lectures at the Clapham Maternity Hospital for a
period of three months, and receive instruction in ante-natal work
at the Balham and Tooting Infant Welfare Centres.
In addition to the practical training received in the Home,
arrangements have been made with Miss Moullin, 41, Parsons Green,
Fulham, a registered midwife, for each pupil to reside with her for a
month in order to receive the instruction required by the Board in
district midwifery work. During this month one of Miss Moullin's
pupils lodges in the Home and receives instruction in institutional
work.
Since the date of opening, 19 pupil midwives, trained in the
Home, have passed the Central Midwives Board examination.
Medical Staff.—There is a rota of nine Doctors practising
in the Borough who are called in to cases of urgency or difficulty,
as the need arises, their fees being paid by the London County
Council under the Midwives Act.
There is also a Consulting Staff consisting of two obstetric
surgeons, two general surgeons, one eye surgeon and two physicians.
Patients.—All expectant mothers residing in the Borough are
eligible for admission to the Home. The fees are determined by the
financial circumstances of each case, with a maximum fee of six
guineas per week. Cases of exceptional hardship may be admitted
free. The average fee was £2 5s. 2d. per week per patient.
Patients are admitted shortly before labour is due, and the
usual duration of stay is 14 days.
Towards the end of 1923 the Council decided to admit women
residing outside the Borough at a minimum weekly fee of £3 per
week, provided all the accommodation in the Home is not required
for Borough residents.