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43
For the remaining part of the Borough—termed the Barking Upney Area—
two midwives were to be employed directly by the Council.
In July, 1937, a communication was received from the Ministry of Health
which gave the Council authority to put into operation their proposals regarding
the Becontree North and the Barking Upney Areas, and five midwives were duly
appointed and took up their appointments towards the end of the year.
The two voluntary organisations concerned,—the Plaistow Maternity Hospital
and District Nurses' Home and the Salvation Army—lodged certain objections to
the Council's proposals, with the Ministry of Health, and negotiations were still
pending at the end of the year.
Subsequent negotiations belong properly to my next year's Report. I can,
however, state that agreement has been reached, that the negotiations pending at
the end of last year have been successful, and that it is anticipated that the Plaistow
Maternity Hospital and District Nurses' Home and the Salvation Army will be
conducting their part of the scheme in the near future.
(e) Upney Hospital.—The admissions to the Maternity Home during 1937
numbered 474 of which 63 were admitted for ante-natal treatment.
During the past year the daily average number of beds occupied was nineteen.
The total number of bed-days was 7,040.
From the above figures it is clear that the admissions to the above hospital are
still increasing, and particularly is this so regarding cases admitted for ante-natal
treatment. This part of your service is obviously a feature which is becoming
very popular amongst mothers and once again the extension of the facilities you
provide becomes an urgent problem.
I regret that during the year we have had the resignation of " Sister " of the
Maternity Hospital.
Sister Ethel Jones carries into her retirement the very best wishes of all those
who knew her and knew the good work which she consistently carried out. It is
significant that Sister Jones came to the hospital at a time when it was anticipated
that 12 cases would be the average admissions per year, and that at the time she
left the cases numbered approximately 400 per year.