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average numbers attending are small, but as the centre becomes
better known to the midwives, probably more mothers will attend.
The service for complicated cases at the Acton Hospital
is efficient and quite satisfactory, and no cases have been refused
admission. For administrative purposes, admission has had to
be limited to those cases who have attended the ante-natal centre.
The Council has no maternity Home. Maternity beds have
been provided in various places, and have proved of undoubted
value. The provision of beds for straight-forward or uncomplicated
cases, owing to housing and other difficulties would supply
a want which is present here.
An Ante-natal clinic is held every other Thursday at the
School Clinic buildings. The medical officer is Dr. Bell, and in 1923,
63 expectant mothers attended the clinic, making a total of 123
attendances. In addition, the Health Visitors visited 200 expectant
mothers in their homes. In 1924, 59 expectant mothers attended,
making a total of 98 attendances.
Examination and advice will be of little use if the advice
cannot be followed because of lack of hospital beds, or ready access
to skilled medical or nursing aid.
An agreement between the Council and the Acton Hospital
has been in force for some years. Under this agreement abnormal
cases are admitted into the hospital and last year 6 cases were admitted.
The Council agrees to pay according to the following
scale:-Ceasarean section, six guineas; Major operations, six
guineas; Minor operations, three guineas. These sums are in
addition to the maintenance free of five pounds per week.
During the last 4 years, the following sums have been paid:—
£ s. d.
1924—1925 98 17 4
1923—1924 109 1 0
1922—1923 151 0 3
1921—1922 62 17 0
1920—1921126 13 0
The Council also pays under certain conditions the fees of
midwives; in 1923 the fees were paid in seventeen instances, and in
1924 in 10 instances.
There is one other sphere which is becoming more popular,
and that is, the provision of Dental treatment for expectant and
nursing mothers. Extractions and stoppings are carried out on
special days at the School Clinic, and through the kind instrumentality
of Miss Loretz, the School Dental Surgeon, dentures are supplied
at a very low cost. The dentures are paid for by the patients
themselves. During 1924, 22 mothers were treated and 5 dentures
supplied.