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46
There are four private nursing homes in the Borough
who accept maternity cases; in one of these qualified nursing
staff does not exist. The total beds in these homes (and not
all are available for maternity cases), number 18.
The Maternity Hospital has 14 beds and is reported on
elsewhere in the report.
Two of the three District Nursing Associations do
maternity work, and during 1925 delivered 74 cases.
There are four independent district midwives, two of
whom have recently come to the Downham Estate.
Stillbirths.
While stillbirths are notifiable, miscarriages are not.
This is certainly a defect in administration of maternity
service and an obstacle in the path of preventive practice.
Eleven stillbirths were notified during the year, all those
occurring on the district being visited by the Health Visitors,
for special investigation.
Health Visiting.
Practically all notified births are visited upon the 10th
day of life, and kept under regular visitation until 5 years of
age, when the child passes to the School Medical Service.
Owing to the residential nature of Bromley certain districts
do not call for visiting. Others escape early visitation
owing to being born outside the district. These are generally
"picked up" in the course of routine visiting in the
district. In 1925, 74 per cent. of babies in Bromley were
visited.