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(а) The Woolwich War Memorial Hospital is situated at the top of Shooters
Hill. It is a general hospital which has a special ward for children and one for
maternity cases. It is mainly used by Woolwich residents and under agreement
with the Borough Council is bound to limit its admissions of non-residents in the
Borough to not more than 40 per cent. of its total admissions. It is controlled
by a voluntary Committee on which there are five representatives of the Borough
Council. The total number of beds is 112, which are allocated as follows:—
medical 28, surgical 38, children's 18, private beds 20, and maternity 8. There
are special departments for X-ray, electric light treatment and massage. The
question of appointing a Pathologist is under consideration, but at the end of the
year all the pathological work was being done at outside Laboratories.
(b) The British Hospital for Mothers and Babies is a maternity hospital with
42 beds, and is situated in Samuel Street, Woolwich. Over 80 per cent. of admissions
are from Woolwich. It is managed by a voluntary Committee of whom two are
members nominated by the Borough Council.
The hospital accommodation in Woolwich is inadequate.
In the War Memorial Hospital the Council reserve twelve beds for children
under 5 years and sufficient accommodation as may be necessary for 66 maternity
cases per annum; and, in addition, the Hospital Authorities are under contract to
provide emergency treatment from time to time for such cases of midwifery as
require it. In the same way, at the British Hospital for Mothers and Babies, sufficient
accommodation as may be necessary for 144 confinements per amium, and for
emergency and ante-natal treatment is reserved for cases sent by the Borough
Council.
vii. Maternal Mortality.
In accordance with the Ministry of Health Circular 888, the Council conduct
enquiries into every death in the Borough of women from child-birth. They have
appointed a Consultant whose services are available in cases of puerperal fever or
puerperal pyrexia.
viii. Institutional Treatment for Unmarried Mothers, Illegitimate
Infants and Homeless Children.
There are no special provisions for any of these classes in the Borough.
ix. Ambulance Facilities.
(a) The London County Council's ambulance service is available for the
removal to hospital, free of charge, of persons suffering from infectious disease,
and, on payment, for the removal of persons suffering from non-infectious disease
to hospitals or other places.