London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Wandsworth 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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53
Maternity and Child Welfare.
for Borough residents. Patients are admitted shortly before
labour is due to commence and are expected to stay 14 days.
The fee charged varies according to the financial circumstances
of the case and is assessed after full enquiries have been
made at the applicant's home by one of the Health Visitors. A
re-assessment is made if the circumstances change or if it is necessary
for the women to remain in the Home longer than the usual
14 days.
A few cases of special hardship are admitted free, as the first
consideration is whether the case is a suitable one for admission
on account of unsatisfactory home circumstances, or for medical
reasons. Every woman is asked to contribute the amount of
Maternity Benefit which she or her husband receives under the
National Health Insurance Acts, unless the financial circumstances
are especially hard.
The minimum fee charged for women residing outside the
Borough has been fixed by the Council at £3 per week.
During the last three years, there has been a slight increase in the total amount of fees received as well as in the average weekly fee paid, as shown in the following statement:—
| Total amount received in fees. | Average weekly fee. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921-1922 | £2,030 | £2 | 4 | 9 |
| 1922-1923 | £1,939 | £2 | 4 | 3 |
| 1923-1924 | £2,152 | £2 | 5 | 2 |
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE HOME
should be made to the Matron at the following times:—
Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays—10-11 a.m.
Tuesday—6-7 p.m.
The following Table shows the number of admissions to the
Home for the years 1921 to 1924, and the districts from which
the cases were admitted. The Table also shows the number of
births which occurred in the Borough in each of the four years
and the proportion of them which took place in the Maternity
Home.