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11
is rendered to the Borough by the willing co-operation of
the Hospital Authority. The tendency is for hospitals
which were formerly exclusively used for infectious diseases
to admit patients suffering from other conditions;
also this policy is generally favoured by Medical Superintendents
as it not only enlarges the scope of the activities
of the medical and nursing personnel, but it is found in
practice that many border line cases occur in which it is
difficult to draw a sharp distinction as to whether or not
they should be regarded as infectious.
The maternity cases in which complications are anticipated
are admitted to Oldchurch County Hospital, and
I take this opportunity of making reference to the help
received from the Medical Superintendent and staff.
Hospital beds for maternity cases are increasingly difficult
to obtain throughout the country, and one frequently
encounters patients who show every sign of being normal,
who, for domestic reasons, find it difficult to have their
confinements at home. The need, however, is impossible
to meet without a considerable extension of hospital facilities.
The suggestion of providing ad hoc maternity
homes has been widely discussed, the Ministry of Health
discourages the establishment of such homes, however,
as it is felt that the provision of maternity beds in conjunction
with a general hospital is preferable from all
points of view. To give an instance, it is often difficult
or impracticable to obtain the services of physicians and
surgeons of consultant status in such homes. Furthermore,
facilities for pathological and X-ray investigations
are usually not available except at general hospitals. I
am aware that there is a body of opinion which favours
municipal maternity homes which undoubtedly present
certain advantages, but these, in my view, are outweighed
by lack of the desiderata mentioned.