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37
SUPPLY OF SHEETS TO EXPECTANT MOTHERS.
The scheme operated by the Board of Trade in conjunction
with the Ministry of Health whereby priority dockets or
equivalent certificates may be issued to expectant mothers who
are confined in their own homes and who are genuinely in need
of additional sheets for the confinement, continued to be operated
satisfactorily during the year.
The priority docket scheme was discontinued by the Ministry
of Health on March 1st, 1947, on which date sheets were rationed,
and coupon equivalent certificates were substituted. Genuinely
necessitous applicants are permitted to receive certificates enabling
them to purchase not more than three sheets.
During 1947, 120 priority dockets and 458 coupon equivalent
certificates were issued.
HOME HELPS SCHEME.
The provision of assistance in the home for women at the
time of their confinement was maintained during the year by
the employment of 4 whole-time and 37 part-time Home Helps.
The duties of Home Helps include the ordinary domestic
work usually undertaken by the mother, such as cleaning, cooking,
washing, care of children, mending, shopping, etc.
Despite the shortage of Home Helps, it was not found
necessary to refuse any applicant during 1947, and 100 cases were
assisted. Arrangements were made in several cases for suitable
neighbours to be accepted as Home Helps, when assistance was
required at a time when the regular Home Helps were already
engaged.
This Scheme is in addition to the Domestic Help Scheme, a
report on which will be found in Section B—General Provision
of Health Services.
MATERNITY HOSPITAL PROVISION.
The arrangement between the Local Authority and the
County Hospital, Farnborough, for the admission of cases to that
hospital where it is inadvisable on medical or environmental
grounds for the confinements to take place at home, continued
to operate satisfactorily during the year. The hospital service
includes ante-natal and post-natal supervision, and a maternity
ambulance service.
A similar arrangement exists, on a smaller scale, with the
Bromley and District Hospital.
195 patients were referred to the County Hospital, Farnborough,
and 10 to the Bromley and District Hospital during the
year.