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I think the midwives should make more use of the
ante-natal clinics, and they certainly might often send
along cases which are environmentally necessitous. They
are so anxious to keep their cases that I think it possible
they sometimes overlook the fact that it would be better
and safer sometimes for the mother to be confined in
hospital. I should like to appeal to all midwives to take
a broad and generous view of things and co-operate more
with the Health Department of Bromley, and when their
own ten days' duty with each mother and child is
completed I ask them in the best interests of all to
introduce the mother and babe to the health visitor at
the nearest welfare centre that we of the Health
Department may be given an opportunity to carry on the
good work already begun by the midwife and so help the
mother in her endeavours to rear healthy bonny children
and therefore help to a healthier Bromley in the future.
Post-Certificate Course.
A very instructive Course was held at Maidstone
during October, 1933. Thirteen midwives applied to
attend, but owing to reasons of professional duties, eight
midwives only actually attended 16 sessions during the
Course. The Local Supervising Authority financially
assisted in the travelling expenses of those who attended.
Maternity Hospital and Maternity Homes.
The Maternity Hospital admitted 150 Bromley
patients and 83 from other districts, making a total of
233.
Under the Council's scheme 20 cases were referred to
the Maternity Hospital and financially assisted. In
addition 20 cases were referred through the Ante-Natal
Clinic to other hospitals, and four cases entered maternity
institutions through the instrumentality of the Health
Department. Thus the Public Health Services were
instrumental in arranging hospital treatment in 44 cases
of confinement, which would otherwise have taken place
in undesirable environmental conditions, or which were
cases likely to be complicated by some medical or physical
conditions. This must remain the true function of the