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17
The Local Authority does not pay a subsidy to any midwife
or nursing associations.
The nursing of special infectious cases, such as measles,
whooping cough, and ophthalmia, is undertaken by these
district nurses. This co-ordination with voluntary effort is
distinctly favourable.
(6) Midwives.—There are 4 district midwives in
private practice; two of these have recently come to the
Downham Estate.
(7) Maternity Hospital.—The Bromley and Chislehurst
Maternity Hospital is under a voluntary management, receiving
a block grant from the Ministry of Health. It is subsidised
by the Bromley Council for cases admitted under the
recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health. The
co-ordination between the Maternity Hospital and the
Maternity and Child Welfare Service is a close and happy
one. The Hospital is doing work of great value, is highly
efficient in its clinical work, and possesses a high reputation
among its patients. There are 14 beds, and a summary of
the year's work extracted from the Annual Report gives a
clear indication of its popularit:
No. of cases in Hospital, Jan. 1st, 1925 9
,, ,, ,, admitted in 1925 152
,, ,, ,, in Hospital, Dec. 31st, 1925 10
,, ,, ,, for whom the Local Authority
paid grant 18
During the year a mild impetigenous infection entered
the hospital affecting some 80 per cent. of babies. This
could not be traced to personal contact from staff, nor were
any of the steps of disinfection successful in abolishing the
disease. It was thus recommended that the hospital be
temporarily closed to allow of thorough sterilisation of