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21
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
It has always been the aim of the Council to provide a maternity
and child welfare service which should be as complete and as
efficient as practicable. In recent years there have been many
important extensions in this section of public health work. The
provision of suitable accommodation is of paramount importance
if the work is to be carried on in a proper manner and the fact
that there are six health centres in the Borough, three of which
have been built specially for the purpose, is evidence of the Council's
desire to provide a satisfactory service.
On the 1st November the new Perivale Maternity Hospital
was opened for the reception of patients, this being undoubtedly
the most noteworthy addition to the maternity services in recent
years. A full description of the new hospital is contained in the
Report on the Hospital, which is included as an Appendix to this
report. The hospital is provided in conjunction with the Brentford
and Chiswick Council, and has accommodation for almost double
the number of patients that could be dealt with at the old Hospital.
Despite the increased number of beds the demand for admission
has been so great that many cases have had to be refused admission
and the extension of the hospital may have to be considered in
the near future.
Another important addition to the Council's maternity and
child welfare scheme was the inauguration of the new midwifery
service. On the 1st May eight midwives commenced duty on the
staff of the Council for the purpose of providing the domiciliary
service under the Midwives Act, 1936. The Act required the
provision of an adequate midwifery service not later than the 30th
July, 1937, but it was found possible for the new service to come
into operation in Ealing three months before this date. Further
information regarding the work of the midwives is given on subsequent
pages, where it will be seen that the new service has begun
in a most successful manner.
The extent of the Council's maternity service will be appreciated
when it is realised that it will now be possible for about 600
Ealing mothers to be admitted to the Perivale Maternity Hospital
and another 700, or more, to be dealt with by the municipal
midwives.