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160
In 1922 the Council entered into an agreement with the
Hospital authorities whereby sufficient accommodation for
144 confinements per annum is reserved for cases sent by the
Medical Officer of Health. The Hospital has undertaken to
provide such accommodation as may be necessary for the
purpose and to provide ante-natal supervision for these cases
and bed accommodation for those cases who require it. The
Council for these services pays the Hospital £1,500 per annum,
and it requires each patient admitted to pay fees according
to the earnings of her husband. The minimum fee has been
fixed at £3 for confinement in the case of multipara and £4
in the case of primiparse. In certain cases this fee is reduced
by the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee. The charge
is based on a normal residence of 14 days, but an additional
charge is made after this period of 3s. per day. The amount
recovered in patients' fees during the year was £559 1s.,
making the nett cost £940 19s., 50 per cent. of which is
recoverable from the Ministry of Health. The opening of
this Hospital in Woolwich has brought about a very marked
change in the outlook of the expectant mother with regard to
institutional midwifery. In the last six years the percentage
of institutional births in Woolwich has risen from 7.8 in 1919
to 32.6 in 1925.
(j) Institutional Provision for Unmarried Mothers. There
is one such Home in the Borough. It is situated at 23,
Vicarage Park, Plumstead, and provides accommodation
for eight mothers and babies. As is to be expected very few
Woolwich mothers enter this Home, the girls being drawn
from other parts of London. The number admitted to the
Home during the year was about average, and, through the
courtesy of the Superintendent, I am able to give the following
information regarding this work:—