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Note.—St. Pancras Hospital, London County Council, at present give information
regarding women attending the hospital ante-natal clinic, provided the woman agrees.
(6) If this scheme were adopted (section 5) and proved a success the number of women
making use of the various ancillary services would be considerably greater than it is at
present. Among these services, dinners constitute a special problem in that they are nowonly
available for women living in the districts served by Ampthill Square and Barnes House
Centres. Having regard to the great importance of nutrition, it is suggested that the Voluntary
Committees of the four other centres be asked to consider the question of the provision
of dinners.
The Council has power, under Ministry of Health Circular 185, itself to provide meals
for expectant mothers.
(7) At the present time a Bill is in course of preparation for the establishment of a
whole-time salaried service of midwives. One of the benefits to be expected from such a
service would be improved ante-natal supervision of midwives' cases. This point is mentioned
for the reason that this report would otherwise include a suggestion that co-operation with
midwives should be encouraged by the introduction of a scheme, similar to that in being in
other Boroughs, whereby a midwife is compensated if a case referred by her to one of the
Council's ante-natal clinics is transferred to hospital.
(8) Having regard to the special conditions obtaining in St. Pancras and to the importance
of establishing and maintaining co-operative effort, it is suggested that representatives of
doctors on hospital staffs, of doctors in private practice, of doctors taking Borough Council
ante-natal clinics and of midwives practising in the Borough should be invited to serve on a
special advisory maternal care committee for the purpose of keping under review and
advising upon the working of the scheme outlined in section (5) of this report and upon other
kindred matters.
(9) Circular 156/M.C.W., referred to above, directed attention to certain services. In
St. Pancras those services thus specially referred to are supplied as follows :—
(a) Ante-natal Seri'ice.—This is supplied throughout the Borough by means of
Hospitals and five Municipal Clinics. There is no Municipal Ante-Natal Clinic attached
to the Highgate Centre. Mothers from that area are sent either to Barnes House or
Caversham Road.
(b) Supply of Midwives.—Midwives to act as midwives are available through the
Maternity Nursing Association and privately. There are no Municipal Midwives in St.
Pancras. A grant is made by the Borough Council to the Maternity Nursing Association
for certain "necessitous cases." This applies to very few cases, and for practical purposes
the Council does not subsidise a midwifery service. There is no scheme for
supplying "Maternity Nurses." There is a "Home Helps" Scheme which receives a
grant from the Council. The scheme is run by a Voluntary Committee in close cooperation
with the Public Health Department. The Deputy Medical Officer of Health
acts as " liaison officer." This scheme supplies the present demand.
(c) Consultants.—This service is provided by the Council but very little use is made
of it.
(d) Hospital Beds.—St. Pancras is richly supplied in this respect. Grants are made
for " necessitous cases."
(e) Provision of ancillaries.—
(i) Sterilised Maternity Outfits. Available but not used frequently.
(ii) Home Helps. See note under (b) above.
(iii) Provision of Milk for Expectant and Nursing Mothers. This is provided.
(iv) Provision of laboratory facilities (pathological specimens). The Council
has no provision for the examination of pathological specimens. The
demand for such a service is slight and can be easily arranged for
from time to time.
(/) Education.—This is receiving special attention. A Health Week is due in May,
and each Welfare Centre will help.