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The Middlesex County Council have been quite unable
to provide sufficient accommodation for the last two or three
years—all their maternity hospitals are quite full, and we
have been obliged to send our patients to Queen Charlotte's
and the London Hospitals, and to local Nursing Homes in
the district. We are often at our wits end to know how to
deal with the situation. In some cases we had to telephone
to from 10 to 15 different Hospitals before gaining admission.
Too often the women apply in the eighth month, having made
no provision!—many coming up from Wales and the
provinces—on obtaining work in the district.
In spite of the fact that the County Council is providing
more beds for the accommodation of maternity cases,
there is little hope that they will be able to cope with the
multitudes flocking into Middlesex at the present time—200
beds would be insufficient—no time should be lost in giving
sanction to the proposed local combined scheme—the matter
is too urgent for dalliance, seeing that the County Council
has failed! and also for the fact that larger numbers are
demanding hospital accommodation.
HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION FOR CHILDREN.
A children's ward containing six beds is provided at
Wembley Hospital. The Hospitals under the control of the
Middlesex County Council provide excellent accommodation
for children, and cases are also referred to the various
London hospitals.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHER OFFICERS'
SUPERANNUATION ACT, 1922.
During 1935, 47 examinations were made by the Medical
Officer of persons, prior to their inclusion as members of the
Staff, for the purpose of the above Act.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The National Maternity Service Scheme.
The National Maternity Service Scheme for England
and Wales, as approved by the British Medical Association,
would be a great step in advance if found practical and was
universally adopted.
The aim is the provision for every pregnant woman of a
midwife and a doctor, the latter taking full responsibility for
the ante-natal, natal and post-natal attendance in the case,
the doctor attending the confinement if desired, or if it was
found necessary. It also embraces: —
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