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32
of the mother; and thirdly, where there is a large family and it
is desirable for the sake of the mother to remove her from domestic
worries during the period of her confinement and convalescence.
For such cases it is desirable that provision should be made,
and I would suggest that the Committee of the King Edward
Memorial Hospital be approached with a view to their considering
whether they could make provision in the near future, not only
for normal cases of confinements, but also abnormal cases.
Failing this I would advise that separate provision be made for
them by the Council. It seems to me, however, that it would be
unwise for the Council to establish an independent institution
when there is within its area a hospital which could be adapted,
with the support of the Council, to the many needs of the community.
Until permanent provision is made I would advise that arrangements
be made with Dr. Bell to admit into his Home normal,
as well as abnormal cases.
For this institutional care a charge would have to be made
according to the financial condition of the people, the charge
being remitted in cases of impoverished circumstances.
The Council has also made arrangements by which Dr. Bell
can be called in as a consultant by medical men in cases of complicated
confinement. Should operative interference be necessary
and should removal to a hospital be desirable the patient
can, as already indicated, be removed to Dr. Bell's Home.
Home Helps and other Assistance.
The circular states that in many cases a woman is unwilling
to leave her home even if its conditions are unsuitable for her
confinement, and that if the difficulty arises from the number
of children, arrangements may sometimes be made for the children
to be boarded out during the mother's lying-in period; but if
it is due to the need for a person to look after the house during
this period, whether the confinement takes place at home or elsewhere
a home help may be supplied for the purpose. The grant
is available for assistance of this character where the Board's general
consent has been previously obtained to the local arrangements.