View report page

145
THE OBSTETRIC SERVICE.
The Municipal Obstetric Service in Croydon may now be
described as complete, in that it provides:—
(a) In-patient accommodation for all booked cases whose pregnances
become abnormal, whose confinements are likely
to be abnormal, or whose home conditions are such as to
make delivery in Hospital advisable. First pregnancies
are, as far as possible, included in this group.
(b) In-patient treatment for practically all the emergency midwifery
of the Borough.
(c) The services of a midwife for those cases whose confinements
can be safely undertaken in their own homes.
These are the booked cases of the Municipal Midwifery
Service, and their numbers will increase as more and more
normal cases are referred to the municipal midwives for
delivery at home. The pressure on the accommodation at
Mayday Hospital will thereby be considerably relieved.
(d) In-patient accommodation, in the Isolation Wards at
the Borough Hospital, for cases of sepsis, whether drawn
from the Borough Maternity Hospitals or from outside
practitioners and Nursing Homes.
(e) In-patient accommodation, in the Gynaecological Wards
of Mayday Hospital, for those cases who are in need of
post-natal treatment for any abnormality resulting from
their confinements.
In February, 1937, the new Maternity Block at Mayday Hospital
was put into commission. It consists of 44 beds for antenatal
and lying-in cases, two labour theatres with two waiting
wards, and four nurseries, all contained in the main building. In
addition, there is a separate isolation block of 4 single wards.
The new Department has proved very easy to administer, and
all the equipment has been found satisfactory. The single-bedded
wards, of which there are 8, have been of great value, as they
permit operation cases, such as Caesarean section, to be separately
nursed, and it has been possible to isolate immediately cases of
pyrexia of doubtful origin, thus eliminating the danger of crossinfection.
The nurseries are spacious, airy, well lighted and adequately
heated, and afford ample accommodation.