View report page

which will be held at 69, Brighton Road, Purley, on the third Monday
in each month, commencing in July, 1937.
It is hoped that in future all mothers attending the Clinics as antenatal
cases will re-attend at least once after their confinement, as many
may thereby be saved unnecessary inconvenience and ill-health.
Obstetric Specialists.
In November, 1934, the Council appointed as Obstetric Specialists
to the Council Mr. Leslie Williams and Mr. Joseph Wrigley, both of whom
are Specialists in this work attached to London Hospitals.
Their services are available for advice, and, if necessary, treatment
in any case in which obstetrical difficulty is anticipated or realised,
or Puerperal Pyrexia or Fever develops, in any ratepayer in the District.
The Council reserves the right to recover part, or all of the cost involved
from the family. During 1936, only one case required the services
of one of these Specialists.
Maternity Cases.
During the year arrangements were made for the admission of 87
cases to the Purley War Memorial Hospital for their confinement under
the Council's scheme, as compared with 80, 86 and 68 in the preceding
three years.
The Hospital is situated just within the boundary of the County
Borough of Croydon, and hence its supervision as a Maternity Home is
the responsibility of the Medical Officer of Health for that area.
The Council has now the call on three beds in this Hospital, although
for a time this was increased to four beds. As has been stated in previous
reports, with the growing need of the District consideration has been
given to the question of enlarging the Maternity Block or building a
new Maternity Hospital.
In view of the fact that a number of applications from all sources
have had to be refused owing to lack of accommodation, and 17 residents
had to be admitted to Queen Charlotte's Hospital during the year in
addition to those admitted to Epsom Hospital, a good deal of attention
was paid to this question during 1936.
As it appeared impossible to provide more accommodation at Purley
Memorial Hospital, the provision of a joint Maternity Home with the
Urban District of Beddington and Wallington was considered, but
owing to the fact that the Surrey County Council are providing 68
maternity beds in the proposed Public Health Hospital at St. Helier's,
the Ministry of Health considered that such a Maternity Home would
be superfluous. Unfortunately the Hospital at St. Helier's will not be
completed for several years.
27