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68 Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1936.
318 patients attended the post-natal Clinics and the attendances
made were 327.
During the past year 492 women were admitted to the Home
and the average duration of stay was 1417 days. 438 deliveries
were carried out by the midwives, 49 by the medical staff, three
cases were transferred before confinement, and two women were
confined before they were admitted.
In 196 cases it was necessary for the midwives to summon
medical assistance in accordance with the requirements of the
Midwives Act.
Seven cases of Puerperal Pyrexia were notified from the Home-
Four of the infants were still-born and eight died within 10
days of birth.
No infant was notified as suffering from Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Every effort is made while the mothers are in the Maternity
Home, to encourage them to breast feed their infants, but in 41
cases the natural feeding had to be supplemented.
Obstetric Consultant Service.
This service has been extended during the year. Since the
Public Health (Notification of Puerperal Fever and Puerperal
Pyrexia) Regulations came into force in 1926, the Council has
made provision for an Obstetric Consultant to be available to meet
medical practitioners in consultation when they require a second
opinion on a woman who has developed a complication during the
lying-in period. It has now been decided to make the services
of the consultant available to meet practitioners as required at any
stage during pregnancy, at confinement or in the lying-in period.
The fee paid for each consultation is three guineas.
During the year the consultant has been called on' five
occasions.