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36
In view of the fact that over 40 per cent. of all St. Pancras births are
attended gratuitously either in their own homes or in institutions, no
immediate action appears to be necessary in the direction of the further
provision of free attendance by doctors or midwives. In the extreme north
of the borough, free attendance by medical students is not available, but it is
probable that in the near future one or other of the teaching hospitals will
extend their work to this part of the borough.
Attendance by a doctor or midwife at the confinement is not all that is
required at such times by the poorer part of the St. Pancras population. A
good deal of unnecessary suffering is caused by the lack of suitably trained
women to look after the mother and her sick room on the one hand, and the
rest of the household on the other, during the time of lying-in. The women
who assist the medical or other attendant at the actual birth are in many
cases totally unsuited for the duty. It would be a great advance if a
sufficient number of women could be trained to act as " monthly nurses " to
second the work of doctors, students and midwives amongst these classes who
are unable to afford the services of the modern " trained nurse."
The St. Pancras Local Representative Committee (for the relief of distress
arising from the war) has undertaken work in this direction by the training
and paying of certain women as "home helps." These women, of whom
there are now 24, are paid 10s. a week and are trained and sent (gratuitously)
to give help in time of sickness in the homes of the poor, relief thus being
provided for the " home helps " themselves and for the people to whom they
are sent. Miss Bibby, the lady sanitary inspector, has been largely concerned
with the institution of this scheme. It is very much to be hoped that
The sub-committee doing this emergency work will later become the nucleus
-of a local body undertaking such work on a larger scale, and under a scheme
whereby the patients will pay according to their means for the services
rendered. A scheme on such lines is at present at work in Whitechapel.
III.—Institutions for advice and Treatment.
(a) In-patient Hospitals.—Beds are available at University College Hospital
and the New Hospital for Women for diseases of pregnancy and the puerperium,
and the Royal Free Hospital are shortly opening beds for this purpose.
There is similar accommodation in other hospitals lying near to but outside
St. Pancras. In many cases " hospital letters " have to be obtained from
subscribers before patients can obtain admission to these institutions, and
it is to be hoped that if grants are made to them by the Local Government.
Board under the Board's Maternity and Child Welfare scheme, it will be
made a condition that the need for " hospital letters" in these cases be
abolished.
There are also beds available for sick children under school age in the
hospitals in the Borough (University College and Royal Free), and in the
neighbourhood of the Borough (Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond
Street, and others). " Hospital letters " are likewise required at most of these
hospitals, and should be abolished in the event of grants being made to the
Institutions.