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Accommodation for Maternity Cases.
According to the Registrar-General 946 children were
born to Finchley parents in 1938, but the Public Health
Department had knowledge of only 848.
As a direct result of the provision of Municipal Midwives
a number of women with suitable accommodation have had
their babies at home instead of going into an institution, and
the results have been so good that it is sincerely hoped that
wherever possible this practice will spread. If the conditions
are satisfactory, and the competent attention can be assured,
I have no doubt that the best place for a mother to have her
baby is in her own home.
On the other hand there are many mothers who cannot
have their babies at home, and it is regrettable to have to
report once again that the prospect of the provision of
adequate maternity accommodation within a reasonable distance
does not seem to have improved at all during the year.
The Town Council have agreed to sell to the County Council
a site for a Maternity Hospital, and it is fervently hoped
that the scheme will begin to take shape at a very early
date.
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