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98
Administration of the Public Health (Puerperal Fever and Puerperal
Pyrexia) Regulations, 1926. The Council's scheme under these regulations was
fully described in the Annual Report for 1928. The extent to which they were
made use of is reported on fully in that part of the Infectious Disease Section of
the report which deals with the notification of these diseases.
Obstetric Complications in Private Practice. In September, 1931, the
Council arranged for the services of Mr. Harold Taylor, F.R.C.S., the Council's
Consultant under the Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia Regulations, to be
available in such exceptional cases, and to pay him a fee of £5 5s. Od. for each
such case. No cases were dealt with under this scheme during the year.
Supply of Maternity Outfits. In 1930 the Council agreed to supply sterilised
maternity outfits for the use of necessitous mothers in order to ensure the necessary
cleanliness in domestic midwifery and with a view to minimising the risks of maternity.
They are supplied free, half cost, or cost price, according to the family income,
the Council's economic scales being used as tests of necessity. The local midwives
speak very highly of these services. During the year 76 applications were
received ; 71 were supplied —29 free, 8 at half cost, and 34 at cost price.
Day Ambulance Service for Maternity Cases. The Council's arrangements
with the London County Council for the use of ambulances for the removal
of non-urgent cases during the day between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m., are set out in
Section III. During the year this service was used on one occasion.
Compensation for Midwives. It is a growing practice for midwives to refer
maternity cases to the Council's ante-natal clinics for examination, and from time
to time the assistant medical officers find it necessary to recommend such cases
for confinement in hospital. The midwive accordingly loses her fee if the patient
accepts the advice of the clinic doctor. The Council thought that it would be
advisable in these circumstances to make a payment by way of compensation to
the midwife and fixed this at 10s. Od., subject to the following conditions being
complied with :—
(1) That the medical officer of the clinic certifies that he or she has advised
the patient to be confined in a maternity hospital;
(2) That the midwife submits the ante-natal clinic medical officer's report,
(3) That the patient confirms the fact that she has engaged a midwife to
attend in her confinement and has been referred by the midwife to
the clinic ;
(4) That the birth takes place in hospital; and
(5) That if a booking fee has already been paid to the midwife, this fee be
returned to the patient before compensation is paid to the midwife.
During the year compensation was paid in 2 instances.