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(e) Number of cases notified as puerperal sepsis, with result of treatment
in each case Nil
(f) Number of cases notified as puerperal pyrexia, with result of treatment
in each case (recovered) 2
(g) Number of cases of pemphigus neonatorum Nil
(h) Number of cases notified as ophthalmia neonatorum with result
of treatment in each case Nil
(i) Number of infants not entirely breast fed while in the Institution 3
(J) Number of maternal deaths Nil
(k) Number of foetal deaths (i) still-born, and (ii) within 10 days of
birth, and their supposed causes—and the results of the postmortem
examination :—
(i) Still-born 9
(ii) Within 10 days of birth 3
Twins months—Feeble—12 hours old 2
Premature—9 days old 1
I know how difficult it is to assess fees for admission to the Maternity Ward
months before the expected date of confinement, the more so in view of the present
economic situation, but I do hope we shall be able to expedite advising women of
the proposed charges for such hospital treatment.
It is not unnatural that the expectant mother wants to have everything
ready and prepared months beforehand, so that she may have this weight off her
mind, the more so because she feels that if she is not going into Upney she must be
busy making alternative arrangements.
A suggestion which has occurred to me and which might commend itself to
the Council is that the Chairman be authorised, as and when these cases arise, to
fix a charge, which chargc will be made on the assumption that the man will be in
his normal employment at the date of the confinement, that the woman be advised
of this charge and that only cases where some extra concession is wanted be brought
individually before the Committee.
At the present time there must in some cases be four or five weeks between the
application being received and the woman being informed as to what the charge
will be. These four or five weeks are a long time to wait, and the method I have
suggested would get over this difficulty in a number of cases.