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43
Provision 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.
During the year 93 applications were received; 82 were supplied—51 free, 7 at half
cost and 24 at cost price.
Compensation of Midwives.—Whenever an assistant medical officer finds it
necessary to recommend hospital treatment for expectant mothers referred to the
Council's ante-natal clinics for ante-natal examination by midwives, the midwife
loses her patient if the mother accepts the advice of the medical officer and is
admitted to hospital. In these cases the Council make a payment of 10s. by way
of compensation to the midwife subject to certain conditions, which are referred to
in detail in my Annual Report for 1931, being complied with. During the year
compensation was paid in 8 instances.
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 it was 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. 0d. for each such
case. No case was dealt with under this scheme during the year.
Home Helps.—During the year 43 applications were considered by the Committee
and 40 home helps were provided. The total cost of this service was
£123 2s. 0d.
Treatment of Minor Ailments.—Children requiring medical or surgical
treatment for certain minor ailments are referred to the School Clinics at Brewer
Street, Woolwich, or to the Eltham and Plumstead Health Centres; to a private
practitioner or to a hospital. During the year 280 children were sent to these clinics
and for each case the Council paid 5s. 0d.
hildren referred to them suffered from the conditions set out in the following
Table, No. 14, but it is well worthy of notice that the number of children treated
at the Eltham Health Centre and the Plumstead Health Centre appear out of all
proportion to the number sent to Brewer Street Clinic, Woolwich. The explanation