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Administration of the Public Health (Puerperal Fever and Puerperal
Pyrexia) Regulations, 1926.—The Council's Scheme for the diagnosis and
treatment of these conditions provides for the services of a consultant—Mr. H. G.
Taylor, F.R.C.S.—for the provision of nursing assistance, for hospital treatment
in the County Council's hospitals, and for bacteriological examination where
necessary. The extent to which it has been made use of has been reported on in
that part of the Infectious Diseases Section of the Report which deals with the
notification of these diseases each year since 1927.
Obstetric Complications in Private Practice.—In September, 1931, the
Council arranged for the services of Mr. H. G. 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
case. No case was dealt with under this scheme during the year.
Home Helps.—In 1929 the Council established a scheme for the supply of
home helps, in order to deal with what appears to be a very apparent need. In
the early years the service was little used. It may be that there is among many
mothers an unwillingness to accept someone else into their home; it may be that
there is a want of mutual confidence, or a feeling of distrust. Anyhow this service
grew slowly, although it was part of it that the mother in certain cases should be
allowed to nominate her home help, subject to the approval of the Medical Officer
of Health. In 1934 there were 40 occasions on which a home help was supplied,
but in 1935 there were 86 applications, and 80 home helps were provided. The
total cost of the service was £264 3s. 6d.
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 at the Eltham and Plumstead Health Centres; to a private
practitioner or to a hospital. During the year 309 children were sent to these clinics
and for each case the Council paid 5s. 0d. Spectacles have been provided under
this scheme at an additional cost to the Council.